Tree Marigold, Mexican Sunflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mexican Sunflower
• Japanese-sunflower
• Mexican sunflower-weed
• Mexican-sunflower
• shrub-sunflower
• tree marigold
• Yellow Mexican Sunflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Helianthus quinquelobus
• Urbanisol tagetiflorus var. diversifolius
• Tithonia diversifolia subsp. glabriuscula
• Mirasolia diversifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified in the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Tithonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Tunisia. Its range extends into Macaronesia, where it can be found on both the Canary Islands and Madeira. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of West Tropical Africa, including Benin. Finally, its distribution continues through the West Tropical African nation of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tithonia diversifolia is characterized by a highly adaptable distribution that spans a broad vertical gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates a significant affinity for anthropogenic environments (Área Antrópica), frequently colonizing landscapes modified by human activity such as disturbed soils, agricultural margins, and roadside verges. Its ability to thrive across such diverse altitudinal ranges and within human-impacted habitats suggests a resilient ecological strategy capable of exploiting various successional stages and disturbed niches.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Tithonia diversifolia are characterized by specific chromosomal arrangements and varying genome configurations. The plant exhibits a chromosome number that has been documented at 30 and 34, reflecting a degree of chromosomal variation within its genetic makeup. Furthermore, the ploidy level associated with these chromosomal counts is identified as 2, indicating a diploid state in these specific instances.

Chromosome number :

30, 34

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Tithonia diversifolia is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its reproductive cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on producing prolific seed sets that allow it to persist in various environments, often colonizing disturbed areas or open spaces where it can rapidly establish itself. This life cycle and form enable the species to exploit seasonal resources efficiently, ensuring its propagation through high seed dispersal capabilities before the onset of unfavorable environmental conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Tithonia diversifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, showing no parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.7 m to a maximum of 5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 3 m. As a non-epiphytic, terrestrial organism, its structure is defined by its herbaceous nature and its ability to maintain an upright, self-supporting habit within its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.7 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tithonia diversifolia is characterized by specific morphological adaptations and nutritional strategies, particularly regarding its foliar structure and metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 33 cm, and widths spanning from 6 cm to 22 cm. Morphologically, the leaf form is described as lobed, a structural feature that can influence gas exchange and transpiration rates. Despite its robust growth habits, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating that its water storage mechanisms are not concentrated within specialized fleshy tissues. Furthermore, from a nutrient cycling perspective, Tithonia diversifolia is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

33 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

22 cm

Leaf width min:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tithonia diversifolia is characterized by a flowering process that can occur throughout the year, with a notable period starting in April. The plant produces yellow flowers that range in length from 4 cm to 7 cm and possess a width between 5 cm and 10 cm. These blooms utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops an indehiscent fruit known as an achene. These fruits are relatively small, with lengths measuring between 0.4 cm and 0.8 cm. The dispersal of these seeds is categorized as anthropochorous, meaning they are spread via human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

7 cm

Flower length min:

4 cm

Flower width max:

10 cm

Flower width min:

5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tithonia diversifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of mycobacteriology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of parasitology research

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Tithonia diversifolia has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include TAGITININ-C, Flavonoids, tagitinin A, (E)-nerolidol, 1-Acetyltagitinin A.

TAGITININ-C

1. Photochemistry and photobiology
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of natural products
4. Talanta
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Fitoterapia

tagitinin A

1. Journal of natural products
2. Fitoterapia
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

(E)-nerolidol

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

1-Acetyltagitinin A

1. Journal of natural products

1beta,2alpha-epoxytagitinin C

1. Journal of natural products

2alpha-Hydroxytirotundin

1. Journal of natural products

3alpha-acetoxydiversifolol

1. Journal of natural products

8beta-Isobutyryloxycumambranolide

1. Journal of natural products

Anthraquinones

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Tithonia diversifolia has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Antimalarial

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. PeerJ

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antiplasmodial

1. Talanta

Antispasmodic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antitubercular

1. International journal of mycobacteriology

Spasmolytic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Tithonia diversifolia has 26 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Bacillus subtilis, Entamoeba histolytica.

Malaria

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of parasitology research

Type 2 diabetes

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Alzheimer's disease

1. Toxicology reports

Bacillus subtilis

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Escherichia coli

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Hiv-1

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hsv-1

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Hsv-2

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Plasmodium berghei

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Tithonia diversifolia has 21 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, 80 % MeOH extract of Tithonia diversifolia (leaves), 80% EtOH extract, 80% ethanolic extract, Essential Oil of Leaf.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

80 % meoh extract of tithonia diversifolia (leaves)

1. Planta medica

80% etoh extract

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

80% ethanolic extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Essential oil of leaf

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

T. diversifolia extract

1. PeerJ

Aqueous fraction

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Crude ether extracts from aerial parts

1. Talanta

Crude extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)