Łódź, Botanical Garden

It is native to Mexico and Central America. Ornamental plant. Bees feeding plant. Edible plant - the petals of the flowers of some varieties can be eaten; the fresh receptacle is eaten by children (!); a yellow dye obtained from the flowers can be used as a saffron substitute for colouring and flavouring food; was used by the Aztec nation to flavor cacao. Herbal plant - the whole herb is anthelmintic, aromatic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, sedative and stomachic; it is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, colic, severe constipation, coughs and dysentery; externally, it is used to treat sores, ulcers, eczema. sore eyes and rheumatism; a paste of the leavs is applied externally to treat boils, carbuncles and earaches; the flowers are carminitive, diuretic and vermifuge, a decoction is used to treat colds, and mumps, applied externally to trea skin diseases, conjunctivitis and sore eyes; the root is laxative. Usable plant - secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs.