Stinking Roger
Tagetes minuta
The heads are narrow and few-flowered with a single series of phyllaries. Eldoret, Kenya. January 2012.
This composite was found growing in pastures where cattle are grazed and thus
is apparently not palatable forage. The plant is strongly scented of resinous
oils which are contained in the darker glands visible on the foliage. Height is
about 1 to 1½ m tall with several branching stems. Primarily
herbaceous with stiff reddish-brown stems.
LEAVES: The pinately compound leaves have lance-shaped segments which
are shallowly toothed. The dried leaves have been used as flavoring and provide
an alternate name: Black Mint.
HERB: Mostly herbaceous growth. Stems reach one to two meters tall.
RAY FLOWERS: The ray flowers are small, few and bright white with
distinct teeth.
DISC FLOWERS: There are several yellow disc flowers.
PHYLLARIES: The single series of enclosing bracts tightly enclose the
florets and developing seeds. They have dark glands containing pungent
terpenes.
RANGE: Native to South America but widely introduced and naturalized in
East Africa.
FRUIT: elongate, slender seeds are very dark and have a couple of papery
scales attached to top.
UNARMED.