The plant is usually dormant for part of the year and dies down to the ground. Flowers are borne on tall stalks in greenish-purple clusters, with long trailing bracts.

Similar species - T. plantaginea has whole leaves vs divided leaves of T. leontopetaloides

Curious, bat-like maroon-black inflorescence both in shape and color, with wide spreading, wing-like white bracts, accompanied by long trailing filaments or "whiskers". The small black flowers are succeeded by heavy berries, corrugated olive-green leaves with oblique base. These are interesting, evergreen, perennial and herbaceous plants that grow wild in many tropical climates. They can be grown in humid, tropical greenhouses. See page about Tacca.

A small growing tuberous Tacca with maple-leaf-shaped leathery leaves and tall slender spikes of pale purple to green flowers backed by a clover-leaf of green bracts.

A rich, moist, well-drained soil and a lightly shaded but not too dark position give the best results.

Lemon marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy - usually a small shrub that can be trimmed to a groundcover level, this plant can reach up a few feet if you let it go. It has very aromatic, airy foliage and vibrant yellow daisy-like blooms.

A strong fragrance from the finely divided foliage is released when rubbed or brushed against. Orange-yellow flowers in fall-winter with off bloom in other seasons - flowering is triggered by short day length so overcast weather can extend flowering in spring. Plant in sun or part shade in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant in coastal gardens but looks best with a little irrigation - too much water or too little light produces leggy plants that don't bloom well. One of the best butterfly attractors!

Tagetes lucida is an attractive landscape ornamental. Use it in perennial borders where its shiny green leaves and little golden flowers make a polite, subtle statement.

Use the flowers of Tagetes lucida fresh in salads, and the leaves as a substitute for French Tarragon.

Tagetes is a genus of 51 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. They have pinnate green leaves, and white, golden, orange, yellow, to an almost red floral heads.

Depending on the species, marigold foliage has a musky, pungent scent, though some varieties have been bred to be scentless. Marigolds have naturalized in many other warm climate areas all over the world.

The triploid marigolds are sterile hybrids obtained by crossing the Tagetes patulawith the Tagetes erecta. Common but colorful, inexpensive and easy to germinate and grow, there are varieties available in a wide range of heights, hues and flower forms.

Plant marigolds in the vegetable garden where they are said to discourage certain insect pests.

The variegated form of Jewels of Opar has excellent creamy white edged foliage, handsome enough alone, but especially nice when set off by the wiry reddish stems topped with dainty pink flowers. Growing in well-drained soil with some water and lots of sun.

Beautiful low-growing shrub 2-3 ft tall with lots of bright pink flowers that open in the morning and stay open till late afternoon. Very fast growing. What makes this plant special? If you read "Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar" by Edgar Rice Burroughs: "...Tarzan stooped and lifted a leathern pouch from the grisly relics of a man. The hard outlines of the contents brought an exclamation of surprise to his lips. "The jewels of Opar!" he cried, holding the pouch aloft, "and," pointing to the bones at his feet, "all that remains of Werper, the Belgian..."

Varieties: Tart and Sweet. Season: Late Spring. A graceful tree with racemes of pea-like flowers. Large spreading habit. Easy to grow, wind resistant. Tart fruit is preferred by Islanders and sweet fruit is preferred by Asians. Tamarinds are grown as ornamental shade and street trees, and for the edible pods. The pods are fed to livestock, and the pulp within the pods is used to make beverages, curries, chutneys and sauces. Also Eaten fresh, in candies and and relishes. See article about tamarind.