Stinking Roger

This next weed is not common on my property but it seems to have a good allelopathic effect on other weeds nearby ( nothing grows around it). Although I have used it in the vegetable garden (dug it in) to help control nematodes, another interesting experiment would be to grind some up and make a solution and then use this on some bare ground to see if it does work in preventing germination from any weed seed bank.


Binomial name : Tagetes minuta

Common name : Stinking Roger , Mexican Marigold



Description :

A member of the marigold family with a slender single stem and with compound leaves to about 1.5 m. There is a characteristic marigold smell when the leaves are crushed. It has small yellowish daisy like flowers



History:

A South American plant that is now cosmopolitan. Cribb records it being used in Africa to repel insects including mosquitos. Wikipaedia also reports that it is used in South America as a culinary herb. Another interesting thing I found is that a local South American name for this plant is Chinchilla. The Queensland town, though, is probably a corruption of the Aborigine word "jinchilla" in reference to the stands of cypress pine in the area. In South America, Tagetes minuta is harvested and an oil is extracted called "Tagetes oil". This is then used in cosmetics and the food industry as a flavouring agent.


http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-649.html



Pubmed : 

Not much medically to report but there are some abstracts supporting the view  that it is strongly biocidal and suppresses soil nematodes. It also does exhibit insect repellant activity. Another study (leaf extract) showed some antibacterial activity as well against gram positive and negative bacteria ( = most of human pathogens are of these types)

Conclusion:

My main interest in this plant is as a potential for weed control. It might be worth trying as a garnish but I doubt we will be eating it! It is not really a problem weed on our property and is readily pulled out anyway.



Tom