Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Ades or Randa kencana or marigold (Tagetes erecta) are plants in the family Compositae (Asteraceae), as one of the ornamental herbs commonly used as hedgerows and are commercially cut flowers which have unique flowers and striking colors.

T. erecta is an annual plant, grows on soil with a neutral pH in hot areas, lots of sunlight and good drainage. The height of this plant ranges from 30 cm to 120 cm. The stem grows erect and branched, greenish white if the shoots are young and green if they are grown.

In all stems grow a compound with pointed ends and jagged edges. The outermost layer is the stem epidermis. Single leaves, pinnate resembling compound leaves, elongated shape to narrow lanceolate with round glandular spots on the edges and green.

Marigolds have flowers measuring 7.5 - 10 cm with double crown arrangements, bright colors with orange and golden yellow. Flowers have a complete organ including pistils and stamens, shaped like a hump, single or collected in panicles and surrounded by protective leaves.

Traditional medicine uses marigolds to cure respiratory infections, anti-inflammation, thinning phlegm, overcoming coughs and medication for wounds. Marigold flowers by the Filipino people are also used as a cure for anemia and rheumatism.

Plants contain essential oils, natural fungicides and anti-nematodes. Marigold flowers in the social are used as sow flowers and ceremonial facilities for the Hindu community in Bali. This plant is also used as a natural food coloring and chicken feed supplement to produce yellow in the egg.

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Tagetes
Species: T. erecta

Six new species forming the Sumbana species group in genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 from Indonesia

NEWS - Sumbawa longhorn ( Nemophora sumbana Kozlov, sp. nov.), Timor longhorn ( Nemophora timorella Kozlov, sp. nov.), shining shade longhorn ( Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov, sp. nov.), Wegner longhorn ( Nemophora wegneri Kozlov, sp. nov.), long brush longhorn ( Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.), and short brush longhorn ( Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Lesser Sunda Islands consist of two parallel, linear oceanic island chains, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Sawu, Timor, Alor, and Tanimbar. The oldest of these islands have been continuously occurring for 10–12 million years. This long period of isolation has allowed significant in situ diversification, making the Lesser Sundas home to many endemic species. This island chain may act as a two-way filter for organisms migrating between the world's two great biogeographic regions, Asia and Australia-Papua. The recognition of a striking cli...

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Ranti or black nightshade ( Solanum nigrum ) is a species of plant in the Solanaceae, shrub and short-lived, stems erect or lying on the ground, berries have a black color when ripe, grows in forests, agricultural land and disturbed habitats. S. nigrum has stems erect or lying at ground level, 30–120 cm (12 to 47 in) long, branched, tubular with several linear grooves forming a cone, green and white-haired. Leaves are elliptical to heart-shaped, 4-7.5 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, pinnate base, pointed or blunt tip, wavy edge or large toothed, dark green upper side, pale underside, hairy or hairless and has a stalk with a length of 1-3 cm. Flowers have greenish to whitish petals, curved when old and surrounded by bright yellow anthers. The berries are mostly 6-8 mm in diameter and are green then turn dull black or black purple or red. Black nightshade grows well with a soil pH of 5.5-6.5 and is rich in organic matter. It is difficult to grow under conditions of high temperature and high hum...

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