We are very close to the Day of the Dead and one of the elements that certainly cannot be missing is the marigold, as it fills the environment with color and scent; however, some of the plants that are purchased are Chinese origin and not Mexican.
You may be interested in: Cempasúchil, poinsettia and vanilla, plants endemic to Mexico
In this way, if you want to acquire flowers that are from Mexican seeds and the native variety of cempasúchil, or simply know how differentiate them, we explain the characteristics of each of them.
The cempasúchil flower that is planted in our country with seed Chinese Marigold, also known as Marigold, is very similar to the original; however, if you pay attention you will notice that they are not exactly the same.
One of the main ways to recognize them is the way they are sold, since while Chinese marigold flowers are found in flower pots and in large stores like shopping malls; those of Mexican origin do not.
One of the qualities of #cempazuchitl #cempohualxochitl native is that it has a diversity of shapes, colors in its flowers and petals. Compared to the #CempazuchitlTransgenic of a pot that produces all its flowers identical.
If you consume endemic products you enrich biodiversity pic.twitter.com/0OsklPAXXU
— Atezkatzin)( Tláhuac (@EspejoTlahuac) October 19, 2021
The above, because the Mexican cempasúchil is usually sold for bouquets and it is more common to find them in markets, as well as in street markets, according to National Geographic.
About the flower in particular, the cempasúchil of Chinese origin is usually smaller; In addition, the colors of the petals are more opaque and less vivid than those of the Mexican species.
Well, the Mexican marigold has very vivid red, yellow and orange colors in its petals; a long, upright stem; while the smell It is also very important, since the Chinese does not have the strong and characteristic aroma of this flower.
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As a final difference, is that the cempasúchil plants Chinese do not germinate and the plant dies faster than the original, since these only last the Day of the Dead season and then wither.
Marigold producers, such as those in Tláhuac and Xochimilco, have opted to grow Chinese seeds known as Marigold, in addition to the Mexican ones, due to different reasons.
Well this seed modified Genetically developed in China and India, when sold in pots it adapts to the needs of the population, who want to have the flower in their home or office, according to a report by Forbes magazine.
Thus the Chinese marigold only serves as ornament and then it is thrown away; in addition, it is also planted, because for the field support programs they ask for invoices, which are easier to obtain when importing the seed.
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“The chinampa owner is not going to give you an invoice for the seed he takes out every year,” one of the producers told Forbes magazine. Despite this, various people have argued against to plant it let alone buy it.
The above, because they claim that the Chinese marigold has displaced the Mexican one and affects the farmers; however, this has opened a debate, because even Light Valdez, cultural promoter, assured that this practice does not affect the Mexican producers.
In addition, he also stated that inviting them not to buy can cause havoc in Mexican families who are dedicated to planting the flower: "After months of job It turns out that people don't want to buy their products because of a video they saw on TikTok," said the cultural promoter.
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