Question

Which statement best describes the similarities in the marigold plant and the pine tree? Both the marigold plant and the pine tree produce seeds, which are needed for reproduction. The marigold plant reaches adulthood after the sprouting stage, and the pine tree reaches adulthood after the seedling stage. The pine tree and the marigold plant have no visible similarities and have different life cycles. The reproductive life cycle of the marigold starts in the sprouting stage and the life cycle of the pine tree starts in the seed stage.

Answer 1

Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flowerheads that are produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most marigolds we see in the garden are one of the following:

Tagetes erecta (aka African marigolds, American marigolds, or Mexican marigolds): This species is the tallest and most upright marigold, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height and producing large, full flowers. They’re native to Mexico and Central America and will thrive even under drought-like conditions.

Tagetes patula (aka French marigolds): French marigolds tend to be smaller, bushier, and more compact than T. erecta. They are often wider than they are tall. Elegant and eye-catching, they have relatively demure flowers and usually grow from 6 inches to 2 feet tall. They are better suited to rainier conditions than the other Tagetes species.