Japanese sunflower, Mexican sunflower
Tithonia diversifolia, Fam. Asteraceae
A robust perennial many branched sub-shrub to 3m with course pithy-centred green stems.
| Weed Category: |
Locally Declared Plants Under the Local Law provision of the Local Government Act 1993, Local Government may declare a weed specifically for their Council area and enforce their control.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Alternate deeply 3-5 lobed and ovate in outline, 60-150 x 50 -120mm, margins bluntly toothed, dull green above, paler below and softly hairy on both surfaces; stalks to 100mm long. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow, Gold |
| Flower description: | Large bright golden-yellow, sunflower-like heads to about 100mm across, borne in terminal and axillary sprays on long stout stems. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | ‘Seeds’ brown silky-hairy, oblong slightly flattened and 4-angled, 5-8mm long with a crown of short scales and 2 awns about 5mm long. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Central America |
| Notes: | Spread by: seeds spread by wind, water and animals. Resprouts from root stock after disturbance. Invades/threats: endangered open forests, roadsides, waterways, embankments, unmanaged lands and fire degraded hillsides. Notes: introduced as a garden ornamental, now widely naturalised in this region, especially on hills with remnant open forest and roadside between North Mackay and Farleigh. Forms extensive, dense thickets and out-competes native vegetation. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
