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Tagetes filifolia

Family: Asteraceae Genus: Tagetes Species: filifolia

Synonyms: Tagetes perretii, Tagetes pusilla, Tagetes pseudomicrantha, Tagetes foeniculacea, Tagetes dichotoma, Tagetes silenoides, Solenotheca tenella, Tagetes multifida, Tagetes scabra, Enalcida pilifera, Enalcida foeniculifolia, Diglossus variabilis, Tagetes anisata, Tagetes fragrantissima, Tagetes congesta

Irish-lace
Irish-lace

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
carminativeantispasmodic

Traditional Uses

In Mexican and Andean folk medicine the anise-scented aerial parts of anisillo are brewed as an infusion to relieve stomach ache, intestinal colic, flatulence, nausea and diarrhoea, and the plant is also taken for coughs and menstrual cramps (Conabio, 2009; Argueta, 1994). The pleasant-tasting tea is valued chiefly as a digestive and carminative remedy.

Botanical Description

Tagetes filifolia, known as anisillo or Irish-lace marigold, is a slender, aromatic annual herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to the highlands of Mexico, Central America and the Andes of South America. It forms a delicate, much-branched, lacy mound usually 10-40 cm tall, with finely divided, thread-like (filiform) pinnate leaves that release a strong sweet anise or licorice scent when crushed. The small flower heads are borne on slender stalks and consist of pale yellow to whitish ray florets surrounding a few disc florets, enclosed in a narrow cylindrical involucre dotted with translucent oil glands typical of the genus. Flowering occurs mainly in the late wet season. The fruit is a slender, dark achene tipped with a pappus of scales and bristles. The plant grows in disturbed ground, fields, roadsides, grassland and open pine-oak woodland from middle to high elevations, often appearing as a weed in cultivated areas.

Native Region: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Venezuela

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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