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Mexican sunflower weed, tree marigold

Arizona sunflower weed

Habit Perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs, to 250(–500) cm. Annuals, 70–200 cm.
Leaves

petioles 2–6 cm;

blades ± deltate to pentagonal, 7–33 × 7–22 cm, sometimes 3- or 5-lobed, abaxial faces glabrous to hispid-pilose.

petioles 0–3.3 cm;

blades deltate, 7–28 × 5.5–21.5 cm, abaxial faces sparsely hirsute (hairs larger on veins).

Peduncles

7–24 cm.

17–36 cm.

Ray florets

7–14;

corollas yellow, laminae linear, 48–69 × 9–16 mm.

7–10;

corollas yellow, laminae oblong, 9–15 × 4–6 mm.

Disc florets

80–120+.

40–60.

Phyllaries

16–28 in (3–)4 series, oblong to ovate;

outer 6–10 × 4–7 mm, apices rounded to acute, abaxial faces usually glabrous;

inner 10–20 × 3–10 mm, apices rounded to acute, abaxial faces glabrous.

13–16 in 3 series, linear to spatulate;

outer 8–15 × 2.5–4.5 mm, apices acute, abaxial faces puberulent;

inner 12–15.5 × 3.5–7 mm, apices acute, abaxial faces glabrous.

Cypselae

4–6 mm.

6–9 mm.

Paleae

10–13 × 2–3 mm, mucros 1.5–2.5 mm.

11–16.5 × 2–4 mm, mucros 3 mm.

2n

= 34.

= 34.

Tithonia diversifolia

Tithonia thurberi

Phenology Flowering Sep–Jan. Flowering Aug–Sep.
Habitat Disturbed sites Disturbed areas, canyons, watercourses
Elevation 0–20+ m (0–100+ ft) 900–1000 m (3000–3300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; TX; Mexico [Introduced in North America; also introduced in West Indies, Central America, Asia, Africa, Atlantic Islands, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; Mexico (Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Tithonia diversifolia is widely cultivated in warm climates and may persist after plantings; a report for Louisiana was not confirmed for this treatment.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 21, p. 139. FNA vol. 21, p. 139.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Helianthinae > Tithonia Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Helianthinae > Tithonia
Sibling taxa
T. rotundifolia, T. thurberi
T. diversifolia, T. rotundifolia
Synonyms Mirasolia diversifolia T. palmeri
Name authority (Hemsley) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 19: 5. (1883) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 655. (1873)
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