Mexican mint marigold
StarTagetes lucida
Synonyms: Tagetes florida, Tagetes anethina, Tagetes seleri, Tagetes gilletii, Tagetes lucida f. florida, Tagetes schiedeana, Tagetes pineda
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Tagetes lucida (yauhtli, pericon) has a deep history in Mexican and Mesoamerican tradition. The Aztecs recorded it (as yauhtli) in the Codex de la Cruz-Badiano, where it was credited with treating numerous ailments and used in ritual and as incense; the Huichol (who call it tumutsali) employ it ceremonially. In contemporary Mexican folk medicine the plant is used chiefly for digestive complaints such as empacho, colic, stomach ache and diarrhoea, and to treat 'susto', a fright-related nervous condition, commonly taken as an anise-flavoured tea (Mexicolore/Codex de la Cruz-Badiano; Surviving Mexico; Albuquerque Herbalism). It is also valued as a culinary herb, the dried leaves serving as a tarragon substitute.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Tagetes lucida, known as Mexican mint marigold, Mexican tarragon, pericon or by its Nahuatl name yauhtli, is an aromatic perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to Mexico and Central America. It grows from a clumping rootstock into erect, branching stems up to about 70 cm tall, bearing opposite to alternate, narrowly lanceolate, finely toothed leaves dotted with oil glands that release a sweet anise- or tarragon-like fragrance when crushed, owing to their content of estragole and related compounds. In late summer and autumn the plant is topped by clusters of small, golden-yellow flower heads, each typically with a few short ray florets surrounding a compact disc, borne in flattish terminal corymbs. The fragrant, anise-flavoured foliage is used as a culinary herb and brewed as a tea, and the species substitutes for French tarragon in warm climates. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and has long held both culinary and ceremonial importance in Mexican culture.
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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