CEMPASÚCHIL FLOWER: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, USES - BIOLOGY - 2025

The marigold flower (Tagetes erecta), known as the flower of the dead, is a herbaceous species of the Asteraceae family. Etymologically, the word cempasúchil derives from the Nahuatl expression cempoalli, which expresses the number twenty, in reference to its 20 petals.

This species is native to Mexico, where it is found in the wild in the towns of Chiapas, Jalisco, México, Morelos, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Sinaloa, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala and Veracruz. It has also been introduced in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Cempasuchil flower (Tagetes erecta). Source: pixabay.com

Due to its wide distribution, each region gives it a particular name, being known as carnation, African carnation or Indian carnation. It is also known as Chinese carnation, China carnation, Moorish carnation, Moorish carnation, Turkish carnation, damascene, Indian rose, marigold or tagete.

In Mexico it is known as cempasúchil, where it is cultivated due to its aromatic yellow or orange flowers used during the Day of the Dead celebrations. Indeed, this ancestral practice carried out by Mexican growers has favored the conservation of their natural germplasm throughout the region.

At a global level, marigold flowers are a source of colorants used in the food, poultry and dye industries, mainly the pigment lutein. Currently, in the US, the European Union, Asia, and South America, Tagetes erecta flowers are sold in pots or cut flowers.

General characteristics

Appearance

The Tagetes erecta species is a perennial herbaceous plant with an annual reproductive cycle that reaches 30-110 cm in height. With a deep and taproot, it has a robust, broad and superficial secondary root system.

Stem

The tubular stem of herbaceous appearance and smooth or finely pubescent texture, has a striated or partially fissured surface. Fine resinous channels are distributed through the bark that emit a pleasant odor when compressed.

Leaves

The compound leaves reach 18-22 cm long and contain 11-17 leaflets, being alternate at the end and opposite at the base. The folios, 5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide, are lanceolate, with an acuminate apex and slightly serrated edges.

flowers

The flowers appear in solitary inflorescences or are grouped in heads on a thin peduncle 10-15 cm long. In each head or capitulum there are 150 to 200 ray, single or double flowers, of 8-10 mm lake and yellow or orange corollas.

Fruit

The fruit is an achene 7-10 mm long, smooth or covered by fine angular rigid bristles, containing a single seed. This species reproduces by seeds and its flowering period is maintained during the summer and autumn seasons.

Detail of the seeds of Tagetes erecta. Source: Philmarin

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae.

- Division: Magnoliophyta.

- Class: Magnoliopsida.

- Order: Asterales.

- Family: Asteraceae.

- Subfamily: Asteroideae.

- Tribe: Tageteae.

- Genus: Tagetes.

- Species: Tagetes erecta L., 1753.

Etymology

- Tagetes: the generic name derives from the God of Etruscan mythology Tages, a divinity related to divination, the underworld and afterlife.

- erecta: adjective of Latin origin that means «eguida».

- Cempasúchil comes from the Nahuatl language cempohualxochitl, where cempohuali means twenty, and xóchitl corresponds to flower. Indeed, it means twenty flowers or many flowers, since the number twenty is venerated by the Central American natives.

Detail of the cempasúchil flowers. Source: pixabay.com

Origin

Tagetes erecta, marigold flower or flower of the dead is a native species of the Mesoamerican region, between Mexico and Central America. In Mexico, it is found in the wild in the states of Chiapas, Jalisco, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Since ancient times the Aztecs cultivated and collected wild flowers for ceremonial, decorative and medicinal purposes. Today they are widely cultivated commercially from multiple genetically improved cultivars, such as ornamental plants or cut flowers.

Habitat and distribution

Habitat

The marigold flower grows in various tropical ecosystems, such as deciduous forests, thorn forests, Madrean pine-oak forests and cloud forests. It is naturally located associated with wild herbaceous plants or commercial crops in intervened areas, at altitude levels between 800-2,300 meters above sea level.

Its soil requirements are wide, from sandy to clay soils, which must be well drained and low in organic matter. A very fertile soil tends to promote foliage production at the expense of inflorescences.

Cempasuchil cultivation. Source: EmilianoMexico

This species requires full sun exposure. Grown under trees, tall shrubs or shady conditions it exhibits slow growth and early development. It is a plant that needs temperatures above 20º C, although it tolerates occasional temperatures between 10-15º C, but does not tolerate frost.

As a commercial crop, it requires frequent watering, every 2-3 days during the hot months, avoiding waterlogging of the land. During the winter, the irrigations are applied spaced, and if frequent rains occur, the irrigation is suspended.

Distribution

Tagetes erecta is native to Mexico, but it is found throughout Central American and Caribbean countries. In fact, it is common in Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

In the wild, it is located in western Mexico and along the Balsa Depression or Balsas Basin. Area located in the Sierra Madre del Sur that includes the states of Jalisco, Guerrero, Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Puebla and Oaxaca.

It is a plant introduced and naturalized widely in pantropical areas, including Africa, Asia and Oceania, as a cut flower or raw material for making dyes. Countries that grow and trade outside their place of origin include India, China, South Africa, Zambia and Australia.

Culture

Sowing

Cempasúchil is a crop that is easily propagated, both by seed and by tender cuttings in early spring. In this regard, it is a species suitable for growing in pots, cut flower beds and in border gardening, rockery or flower beds.

This flower can be grown all year round under a greenhouse, but sowing is frequently started during the months of June-July. In this way, the harvest coincides with the celebration of the Day of the Dead, the first days of November.

Cempasuchil seedlings. Source: Beyond silence

For its cultivation it is essential to choose viable, healthy and fresh seeds, of the variety that you want to propagate. Sowing requires the use of a fertile and well-drained substrate, with a loamy or sandy-loam texture, properly disinfected.

The initial sowing is carried out in polyethylene bags, in agricultural foamy seedlings or on coconut fiber slabs. The seeds are broadcast in the seed bags, or 2-3 seeds can be placed for each germination point.

Germination

Maintaining the proper humidity and temperature conditions, the seeds begin their germination 7-10 days after sowing. When the plant emerges, the two cotyledons are distinguished, and later the first pair of true leaves is formed.

This is the opportune moment to start the fertilization of the crop, being advisable for this stage to add a nutrient solution. In this regard, the dose of the nutrient solution is applied in a fractional way, in order to avoid "burning" of the seedlings.

Transplant

The seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are 12-15 cm tall, or 3-4 pairs of leaves. The transplant is carried out in polyethylene bags with a loam substrate, or seed beds under a greenhouse, with good drainage and ample lighting.

The seedlings are extracted from the germinator with the help of a special tool to avoid physical damage to the roots. In the case of agricultural foamy cubes, they are individually separated and placed directly at the final planting site.

The seedlings are placed with the help of a clean and disinfected agricultural tool, 4-6 cm deep and 30-40 cm apart. At this stage, continuous watering and the application of a nutrient solution are required to strengthen the crop.

Driving

During the cultivation establishment it is recommended to prune lower leaves, as well as leaves with physical or pathological damage. In fact, this is a practice that contributes to the vigor and strength of the plant, improving its development and flowering.

When the plants reach 6 nodes or 20-30 cm in height, clamping or topping is carried out. This practice consists of eliminating the terminal bud, in order to promote the development of lateral branches.

Commercial cultivation of marigolds. Source: Gonzalo De La Rosa

A second clamping is usually carried out at 35-50 days on the branches developed initially from the first sprouting. In this way, the number of branches is increased and as a consequence more flower buds will be obtained.

During the flowering stage it is advisable to prune wilted, diseased or old flowers, to avoid damage to neighboring flowers. Pruning is performed on the peduncle at the base of the stem, using a sharp and disinfected instrument.

Irrigation

Irrigation must be intense in order to keep the substrate moist, without causing waterlogging. In this regard, manual or automated irrigation, sprinkler, mowing tape, or spot "spot" can be applied.

In this type of cultivation, fertilization is carried out through a nutrient solution added to the irrigation water. The amount of fertilizer is applied based on the requirements of the crop, maintaining a pH of 5.5-6.5 and electrical conductivity of 3 mS / cm.

Depending on the environment, location and type of substrate, the ideal amount per plant is 450 ml of water per day. In high temperature conditions, it is recommended to increase the amount of water and carry out sprinkler irrigation to cool the environment.

Harvest

The variety of the crop, the environmental factors and the management are determining conditions to start the cut and harvest of the flowers. The harvest begins 90-120 days after sowing.

Mature flowers of commercial value are cut at ground level using clean, disinfected scissors. In fact, this activity is carried out at weekly intervals (7-8 days), during the period that the harvest lasts (90-120 days).

Harvest of marigold flowers. Source: EmilianoMexico

Applications

Medicinal

Photochemical analysis of marigold flowers has made it possible to determine the presence of different carotenoids, specifically the pigment lutein. These metabolites provide this plant with multiple therapeutic properties used in traditional Mexican medicine.

The presence of specialized glands along the stem, leaves and flowers, gives it a strong aromatic smell that attributes healing properties. In fact, in the cultural tradition, it is considered a "hot" crop used to alleviate physical and supernatural diseases.

In this regard, in traditional medicine marigolds are used to heal popular ailments such as fright, evil eye or rennet. For the ancestral culture of the indigenous peoples, these sufferings are the consequence of divine punishment or are caused by supernatural forces.

Lutein is a natural pigment used for the prevention and treatment of age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. For this reason, it is advisable to use natural dyes based on lutein in food preparation, instead of using chemical dyes.

In this context, the greater intensity of the orange color is related to a greater content of pigments. Indeed, scientific evidence shows the effectiveness of these pigments to prevent diseases associated with old age, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, immune deficiencies and cancer.

Colorant

Through extraction processes with organic solvents and saponification, the pigment lutein is obtained from marigold flowers. During the process, an oleoresin is initially extracted that contains carotenoids, fatty acids (palmitic, myristic), and lutein esters.

From these primary compounds free xanthophylls are obtained, which yield 80-93% lutein, 5-10% zeaxanthin and 5-15% carotenoids (cryptosanthin, violaxanthin). Natural pigments used as yellow colorant in the food industry during the production of pasta, butter, margarine, vegetable oil, biscuits, bakery and beverages.

Cempasuchil flower extract. Source: pixabay.com

Poultry farming

Natural pigments (luteins, xanthophylls, zeaxanthins) are added in the production of concentrated feeds for poultry and layers. This supplement is added in order to improve the appearance of the skin of the benefited chickens and increase the color of the eggs.

Insecticide

Marigold root contains various irritating oils, such as α - Tiertihenyl, which gives it nematicidal and insecticidal qualities due to its irritating odor. Indeed, marigolds are used to control lice and ticks, as well as the tomato nematode Pratylenchus penetrans.

Legend

The legend of Xóchitl and Huitzílin

There are various legends related to this representative flower traditionally used in religious ceremonies and on the altars of the dead by the Mexican natives.

One of them tells that there were two lovers, Xóchitl and Huitzílin, who offered flowers to the Sun God Tonatiuh, professing their infinite love beyond death.

Unfortunately the lovers were separated by the war. Huitzílin went to fight for his people and died in combat. Xóchitl, in deep pain, begged Sun Father Tonatiuh to take her away with his unwavering love.

The God Tonatiuh, moved by the deep pain of the young woman, radiated a beam of light that when touching Xóchitl turned her into a flower. This flower of intense colors like the rays of the sun was touched in the center by a small hummingbird that represented Huitzílin.

At that precise moment, the flower unfolded in 20 petals of brilliant yellow colors and a pleasant pungent aroma. From there, one of the legends of the cempasúchil flower or flower of the dead was born.

Use of marigold flowers in the traditional celebration to celebrate "Dia de los Muertos". Source: Jordi Cueto-Felgueroso Arocha

The tradition of Maninalco

Another of the legends or ancestral stories points to a tradition of the population of Santa María Maninalco near Mexico City. When someone died, the relatives covered their graves with a small yellow flower called Tonalxochitl, which had the ability to keep warm in its petals.

The Mexicas, residents of Maninalco, adopted this ancient tradition, but they considered the Tonalxochitl flower to be very simple. Therefore, through natural selection they managed to transform this simple flower into a group of twenty flowers in a single button.

This new flower was known as cempasúchil or flower of the dead. Being used to this day as an offering to adorn the funeral pantheons and the tombs of the deceased.

References

1. Cempaxúchitl: Flower of the Wisdom of Man (2015) Fascicle 7. Jewels of Mexican Nature. Botanical Garden of the Fundación Xochitla AC Universidad Autónoma Chapingo.
2. Cempasúchil (Tagetes erecta) (2018) National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity - CONABIO. Recovered in: enciclovida.mx
3. Castañeda, D. and Ramírez, Ana L. (2017) Legend of the Cempasúchil flower. Learn about the legend behind this characteristic Day of the Dead flower. Blasting SA, IDI. Blasting News. Lugano (Switzerland) Recovered in: blastingnews.com
4. Castro, RAE (1994). Origin, nature and uses of the cempoalxóchitl. Agricultural Geography Magazine, 20, 179-190.
5. Guide for the cultivation of Flor de Cempasúchil or Cempoalxóchitl (2018) Manuals of agronomy and agriculture, agronomic and agricultural topics. Recovered in: infoagronomo.net
6. Martínez Peña, M., & Cortés Cuevas, A., & Avila González, E. (2004). Evaluation of three levels of marigold flower pigment (Tagetes erecta) on skin pigmentation in broilers. Livestock Technique in Mexico, 42 (1), 105-111.
7. Mondragón Pichardo, J. (2017) Tagetes erecta L. Weeds of Mexico. Recovered at: conabio.gob.mx
8. Serrato Cruz, M. Á., Sánchez Millán, JL, Barajas Pérez, JS, García Jiménez, FA, del Villar Martínez, AA, Arenas Ocampo, ML,… & Gómez Villar, HC (2008). Carotenoids and morphological characteristics in heads of Mexican samples of Tagetes erecta L. Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana, 31 (3).
9. Tagetes erecta. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
10. Tapia Salazar, M., Ricque Marie, D., Nieto López, MG, & Cruz Suárez, LE (2008). Use of Cempasuchil Flower Pigments (Tagetes erecta) as Additives in Food for Shrimp L. vannamei. Mariculture Program, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León.