Tagetes pusilla, the lesser marigold, is a Latin American species of marigolds in the family Asteraceae. It is native Central America and western South America from Guatemala to northern Argentina.Cabrera, A. L. 1978. Compositae. 10: 1–726. In A. L. Cabrera (ed.) Flora de la provincia de Jujuy. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos AiresRusby, H. H. 1893. On the collections of Mr. Miguel Bang in Bolivia. Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 3(3): 62
Tagetes pusilla is a small annual herb rarely more than 10 cm (4 inches) tall. Leaves are deeply dissected, the leaflets reduced to threads. One plant a few small flower heads, each containing 1-3 white ray florets surrounding 8-10 disc florets.Rydberg, Per Axel 1913. in Britton, Nathaniel Lord, North American Flora 34: 158
References
External links Plant Profile for Tagetes pusilla USDA
Missouri Botanical Garden