Mexican Sunflower

Appearance

"Tithonia diversifolia" is 2–3 m in height with upright and sometimes ligneous stalks in the form of woody shrubs. Leaves are sub-ovate, serrate, acute, 10 to 40 cm long, simply or mostly 3-7 lobed, somewhat glandular, and slightly grayish beneath. The leaves of the plant alternate in sides they grow on, which is where the plant gets the name diversifolia.

The large, showy honey-scented flowers are yellow to orange colored, 5–15 cm wide and 10–30 cm long. Flowering occurs in spring, though more profusely during autumn and early winter. Its seeds are spread through way of wind, water, and animals. The seeds are achenes, 4-angled, and 5mm long.

Evolution

This plant was originally domesticated in Mexico and spread to other parts of Central and South America and north into the United States. It was brought over to parts of Africa and Asia as an ornamental plant and has become an invasive weed that is widely spread. It is most commonly found in areas with an altitude between 550m and 1950m. It is commonly found scattered among rivers and roadsides. In Asia and Latin America this plant is also referred to as kembang bulan, jalacate, buatong and dã quỳ.

While "T. diversifolia" has moderate drought tolerance, the amount of rainfall that the African subtropics receives may not be enough to support the growing of this biomass. "T. diversifolia" currently grows in humid and semi humid areas in Africa. However, no evidence was found to suggest that it had been attempted in desert conditions.

Uses

*In Japan, towards the end of the Meiji Period, they were imported as ornamental plants although seldom cultivated there. Having a characteristic bitter taste, they were used to induce a fever to help fight poisoning, although not used for direct medicinal purposes. There is also the story of the species being introduced to Japan by Nitobe Inazo, hence its Japanese name, the Nitobe chrysanthemum.
⤷ It is the official symbol of Da Lat city, Vietnam.
⤷ They are sold in herbal medicine markets in Taiwan.
⤷ It is the provincial flower of Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand.
⤷ "T. diversifolia" can be used as a green fertilizer for farmers. It can also be used as chicken feed, fuelwood, soil erosion control, and building materials. For fertilization, it is used as a mulch which can be spread on top of the soil or buried beneath it. The advantages here is that using the plant as a fertilizer has proven to increase crop yields. "T. diversifolia" has the ability to restore phosphorus in high amounts to the soil. "T. diversifolia" as a fertilizer contains 1.76% N, 0.82% P, and 3.92% K. All three properties are lower in cattle manure, and P is higher in poultry and swine manure.
⤷ In East African sugarcane fields, their flowers are used to attract beneficials arthropods as a biocontrol strategy.