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Mexican sunflower
Damo O, CC0, via iNaturalist

Daisy family

Mexican sunflower

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray

Names

EnglishMexican sunflower
Dutch—
SpanishAcahual
Chinese肿柄菊
Scientific nameTithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray

About this species

Tithonia diversifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is commonly known as the tree marigold, Mexican tournesol, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower or Nitobe chrysanthemum. It is native to Mexico and Central America but has a nearly pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Depending on the area they may be either annual or perennial. It has shown great potential in raising the soil fertility in soils depleted in nutrients.

Research has shown its potential in benefiting poor African farmers. This plant is a weed that grows quickly and has become an option as an affordable alternative to expensive synthetic fertilizers. It has shown to increase plant yields and the availability of soil nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Read more on Wikipedia · Text: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Classification

KingdomPlantae
PhylumTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusTithonia

In Suriname

5Records in Suriname
7iNaturalist observations
2013First record
2025Latest record

Where it has been recorded

  • Paramaribo3
  • Sipaliwini2

Districts with at least one record that has coordinates. Shaded districts have records.

Sources & credits

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