marigold

Marigold panicum miliaceum. The plant height is 60-100cm, the whole plant has peculiar smell, and the stems are stout, green and erect. The single leaf is pinnately divided and opposite, the lobes are lanceolate and serrated, the upper leaves are alternate, the lobes have oil glands at the edges, and the serrations have awns. The head inflorescence is attached to the top of the branch, the diameter can reach 10cm, yellow or orange, and the total pedicel is swollen. The flowering period is August-September. Achene is black, and the crown hair is yellowish. Like sunny environment, cold-resistant, drought-resistant, and poor growth in humid climate. The requirements for land are not strict, but fertile, loose and well-drained soil is better. Marigold is rich in lutein. Lutein is a natural pigment widely found in vegetables, flowers, fruits and some algae. It can delay the visual deterioration and blindness caused by macular degeneration in the elderly, as well as cardiovascular sclerosis, coronary heart disease and tumor diseases caused by aging. The United States has been extracting lutein from marigold since 1970s. It was first added to chicken feed to improve the nutritional value of eggs. Lutein can also be used in cosmetics, feed, medicine, aquatic products and other industries. In the international market, the price of one gram of lutein is equivalent to that of one gram of gold.
Reprinted with attribution： https://cnlocality.com/(Chinese Specialty Products)