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Tagetes lucida

Mexican tarragon

Generally recognised as safe

Other names: Mexican mint marigold

A Mexican marigold relative with sweet anise-scented leaves.

A perennial herb with narrow glossy leaves and small yellow flower heads; in Mexico it is used as a spice and in herbal infusions, with a flavor recalling tarragon and anise.

Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Perennial herb
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.
Mexican tarragon — plant habitus (Wikimedia Commons).

Photograph on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Plant habit

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Generally recognised as safe details
Scientific sources on the card
Yes — sources are listed with claims Science section
When and what to harvest
  • Leaf — August–October
Full harvest section
Processing methods

Herbal infusion (tea), Culinary use, Incense / smoke offering

All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Ancestors and memory, Anxiety & inner restlessness, Sacred plants…

Topics section, Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Perennial herb in Asteraceae reaching 0.5–1 m. Leaves simple, linear-lanceolate, finely serrate, NOT pinnately divided, with sunken oil glands in two or more submarginal rows; strongly anise (tarragon) scented when crushed. Capitula small, golden-yellow, in flat-topped clusters, with few ray florets; involucral bracts in a single row.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Most often confused with African marigold (Tagetes erecta), which has larger flower heads, odd-pinnate (divided) leaves, oil glands in several rows and lacks the anise scent; it is edible and non-toxic, so the culinary risk is low. High doses of Tagetes lucida itself may be harmful.

Similar herbs

No related herbs are linked yet.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Sources

Geographic occurrence

  • Mexico

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

Harvest

  • LeafAugust–October

    summer

    Region: Mexico

    Notes: Leaves and flowering tops before seeds mature.

Storage

  • Drying(Leaf)

    Dried herb with flowers keeps 12 months in a closed container; the aniseed scent holds well.

    Light:
    Out of light.
    Moisture:
    Protect from moisture.

Processing methods on this herb card

  • Herbal infusion (tea)(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability

    Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Here, herbal tea is prepared as an infusion: pour freshly boiling water over dried herbs or a herbal blend and steep for at least 5 minutes. BfR gives this as a hygiene rule, not a medicinal dose. Follow the specific product instructions, including a longer steeping time when stated. This rule for herbal infusions is not a general preparation guide for true tea (Camellia sinensis). Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.

    Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Pericón (Mexican tarragon) tea

    About 10 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Culinary use(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability

    Cooking, baking, seasoning as food — general category without therapeutic claims.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Culinary use covers herbs as ingredients in dishes, drinks, or spice mixes. This overview does not evaluate medicinal effects — only reminds you about species intent, allergies, and heat treatment where needed (e.g. some fruits or plant parts).

    Combining with alcohol, sugar, or long cooking changes outcomes; verify culinary sources.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

  • Incense / smoke offering(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Burning or heating aromatic plant material (smoke, steam).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Incense may be dried herb, resin blends, or preparations on charcoal. The effect is sensory and cultural; smoke can irritate airways in sensitive people.

    Ventilate the space; use non-flammable bases and heat-safe vessels.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

  • Yauhtli — the rain god's incense and crosses on the door

    Symbolism

    Spiritual useRitualSuperstitionSymbolism

    The Aztecs burnt yauhtli as incense to the rain god Tlaloc and blew its powder into the faces of sacrificial victims; today in central Mexico on 28 September, the eve of St Michael's feast, crosses are tied from flowering pericón and hung on doors and in fields against evil and storms — a Christian form of the same rite. A record of religious tradition, not effect.

    Form:
    offering to Tlaloc, pericón crosses on 28 September
    Claim strength:
    Tradition
    Source note:
    Sahagún, Florentine Codex (yauhtli); the living custom of 'cruces de pericón' (Morelos, Puebla, Guerrero); Pérez-Ortega et al. 2016 (ethnobotany).

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified
The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature
Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence
Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings
First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence
Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence
Stronger design or consistency of results within the study's stated limits.
Review article
A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text
Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study
Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study
Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study
Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial
Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial
Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study
A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review
Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis
Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)
Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations)
Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

  • The review summarises Mexican traditional use of pericón for anxiety, insomnia and 'fright', and animal studies in which extracts and coumarins (7-methoxycoumarin, herniarin) reduced anxiety-like behaviour and prolonged sleep.

    Narrative / orientational literatureReview studyYear: 2016

    Limitations: Preclinical data only; no human clinical studies. Estragole in the oil is a substance with a safety limit.

    Pérez-Ortega G, González-Trujano ME, Ángeles-López GE, Brindis F, Vibrans H, Reyes-Chilpa R — Journal of Ethnopharmacology

    Tagetes lucida Cav.: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of its tranquilizing properties

    DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.040

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • Asteraceae allergyLow severityAllergy

    Cross-reactions may occur in people sensitive to daisy, ragweed, or marigold; a small contact test first is sensible.