Tithonia
(a name of mythological derivation, from Tithonus, the favourite of Aurora). ORD. Compositae. A small genus (four or five species) of half-hardy, robust, annual herbs, or sometimes shrubby at base, natives of Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. Flower-heads yellow, large, heterogamous, on long, thickened peduncles; ray florets ligulate, spreading, entire or scarcely bidenticulate; involucre hemispherical or broadly campanulate, the bracts biseriate; receptacle convex; achenes slightly pilose. Leaves alternate, petiolate, entire or three-lobed. The species here described thrive in any light soil. Propagated by seeds.
T. ovata (ovate). A synonym of Zexmenia ovata.
T. speciosa (showy). fl.-heads, involucral bracts leafy; ray florets about twelve or thirteen, rich red; peduncles one-headed, thickened above. August. l. petiolate, cordate, undivided or crenately three-lobed. Stem erect, terete. h. 4ft. Mexico, 1833. SYN. Helianthus speciosus (B. M. 3295). T. tagetiflora (Marigold-flowered). fl.-heads orange-yellow; ray florets oval-oblong; involucre velvety, erect; peduncles thickened at apex. August. l. usually trilobed. h. 6ft. Vera Cruz, 1818. (B. R. 591; R. H. 1858, f. 64.) T. tubaeformis (tube-like). fl.-heads, ray florets oblong; involucre hairy, somewhat spreading; achenes usually biaristate; peduncles thickened at apex. July. l. all undivided. h. 5ft. Mexico, 1799. (B. R. 1519, under name of Helianthus tubaeformis.)