Tithonia rotundifolia

Round-leaved Tithonia ( Tithonia rotundifolia )

The Round-leaved Tithonia ( Tithonia rotundifolia ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).

Features

The Round-leaved Tithonia is an annual plant, the plant height to 4 meters reached ( in culture only 0.8 to 1.5 meters). The leaves are broadly heart- shaped. The lower ones are usually three-lobed. The petiole has a length up to 40 centimeters. The top of the leaves are gray haired the bottom. The flower heads have a diameter of 5 to 8 ( rarely to 10) cm. The ray florets are vermilion and broadly ovate. The disc florets are golden. There are 12 to 16 bracts present, the outer ones are pointed.

The flowering period extends from July to September.

Occurrence

The Round-leaved Tithonia comes in Mexico and Central America prior to impact corridors, shrubs and ruderal at altitudes below 1000 meters.

Use

The Round-leaved Tithonia is scattered used as an ornamental plant for borders and summer flower beds as well as a cut flower. It is in culture since 1733.

Documents

• Corner Hardt J. Hunter, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd Müller K. (ed.): Rothmaler - Excursion Flora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.