Tithonia rotundifolia
Tithonia rotundifolia, commonly known as Mexican sunflower, is a vibrant perennial celebrated for its striking orange blooms. Beyond its ornamental appeal, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical value. Rich in bioactive compounds, it is utilized in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties across various cultures.
- Scientific name: Tithonia rotundifolia
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Tithonia and the species Tithonia rotundifolia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tithonia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Tithonia rotundifolia, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In German, it is called Rundblättrige Tithonie, while in Vietnamese, it is known as Sơn quỳ. In the Tongan language, it is called Siolaʻā mekesikō, and in Japanese, it is referred to as メキシコヒマワリ. Finally, in Finnish, it is commonly known as Titonia.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Rundblättrige Tithonie | Wikidata |
| vi | Sơn quỳ | Wikidata |
| to | Siolaʻā mekesikō | Wikidata |
| ja | メキシコヒマワリ | Wikidata |
| fi | Titonia | Wikidata |
| zh | 圆叶肿柄菊 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 圆叶肿柄菊 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 圓葉腫柄菊 | Wikidata |
| ml | മെക്സിക്കൻ സൂര്യകാന്തി | Wikidata |
| es | Helianthus speciosus | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several continents. In Middle Europe, it can be found within the borders of Germany. Its presence extends into Eastern Europe, specifically throughout South European Russia. The species also thrives in West-Central Tropical Africa, particularly in the DR Congo. Finally, it is distributed across Northeast Tropical Africa, covering both Ethiopia and the Sudan-South Sudan region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | South European Russia | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
Chemicals
Tithonia rotundifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tagitinin A, flavonoids, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Tagitinin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |