Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray, Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 17 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Mirasolia diversifolia Hemsl.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Japanese sunflower, Mexican sunflower, giant Mexican sunflower, shrub sunflower, sunflower, tree marigold

French: fleur de la fête des Mères, petite fleur soleil

Maori (Cook Islands): kavakava, pua renga, tiare rengarenga

Niuean: matal&amacron;, matalaa

Spanish: jícama

Tongan: siola‘ā

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Large, shrub-like perennial herbs to 3 m tall; stems striate, puberulent. Leaves alternate, ovate, or cuneiform, 10-15 cm long, apex acuminate or acute, base acuminate, entire, 3-5-lobed, lobes acute with broad, rounded sinuses, margins often crenate, upper surface velutinous, lower surface scabrous; petiole 5-15 cm long. Heads solitary, radiate, large and showy, ca. 10 cm across; peduncle 8-15 cm long; involucre 2.4-4 cm across, bracts in 3 or 4 series, graduated, imbricate, 1-2 cm long. Ray florets ca. 9-14 in one row, ligules elliptic, 4-6 cm long, apically 2- or 3-dentate, puberulent on abaxial surface. Disc florets numerous, ca. 15 mm long, corolla tubular, pubescent on abaxial surface, lobes yellow. Achenes dark brown, flat, somewhat triquetrous, 5-6 mm long, sericeous. Pappus of 2 sturdy awns and several shorter, broader scales that are connate at base, awns 4-5 mm long"  (Digital Flora of Taiwan).

"Stout shrubby herb or shrub 2-3 m tall; stoloniferous; leaves mostly subovate, acute, serrate, 10-40 cm long, long (2-10 cm) petiolate, simple or mostly 3-7-lobed with acute serrate lobes, somewhat glandular, slightly grayish beneath, puberulent on both surfaces; petiole slightly bilobed at base; peduncles 10-30 cm long; heads large and showy, 5-15 cm wide; involucre of bracts in 4 series; ray-florets about 12-15, with yellow ligules to 6 cm long; achenes cuneate, 4-angled, appressed-puberulent, 5 mm long, 2-awned" (Stone, 1970; p. 586).

"Grande herbacée pérenne dressée à base ligneuse, de 1,5 à 5 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses grandes feuilles à 3 à 5 lobes, légèrement poilues, ses inflorescences (capitules) solitaires composées de fleurs à corolle jaune vif à orange, et ses petits fruits secs (akènes) noirs et quadrangulaires avec un pappus formé de petites écailles soudées et de deux arêtes" (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, naturalized in low elevation sites (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 369-370).  Naturalized along roadsides and other disturbed areas on Niue (Space & Flynn, 2000).  In Fiji, "found near sea level as a naturalized garden escape along roadsides and in open waste places"  (Smith, 1991; pp. 279-280). In New Caledonia, "peu cultivé mais paraît sporadiquement en peuplements importants de durée limitée" (MacKee, 1994; p. 39).  In Taiwan, "introduced as an ornamental and escaped to borders of orchards, bamboo groves, betal nut plantations and disturbed secondary forests, sea level to 1,000 m"  (Digital Flora of Taiwan).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico and Central America (GRIN)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 39, 43) "Nous l’avons vu plantée dans le village de Hanga Roa et en bordure de route où elle forme des fourrés denses" (Meyer, 2008; p. 39).
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 82007) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1928) (voucher ID: BISH 133125) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 133124) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 618513) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 74)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 279-280) Voucher cited: DA 10495
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 279-280) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 88, DA 10278, DA 11414, Bryan 199
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 133130) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: B.G. Decker 915 (PAP), M.-H. Sachet & B.G. Decker 1860 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000346) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 94) "Potential invader".
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: K.R. Wood, J.-Y. Meyer & J.-P. Luce 6354 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 28617) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Helmsl.) A. Gray
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Florence 5010
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5010 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 574234) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81) Voucher cited: Moore 705
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 19)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 81)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492376) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3101 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492780) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5760 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11196 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 550738) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 644122) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 94) "Potential invader".
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 586) Voucher cited: Stone 4928 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1945) (voucher ID: BISH 133132) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1954) (voucher ID: BISH 133134) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370) Voucher cited: Rock 12964 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Oppenheimer, Hank (2013) (p. 18) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer & Perlman H111230 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 369-370)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 25463 Spontané
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 18967 Spontané
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: MacKee 45848 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Potential invader".
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 379) Peu cultivée mais paraît sporadiquement en peuplement important de durée limitée.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: Baumann 16058, MacKee 8154, MacKee 42514 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Baumann 13901
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 69) Voucher cited: CHR 170492; "...has formed large stands. . . . It was not seen growing as a plantation weed as recorded by Yuncker." (Sykes, 1970, p. 69)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 12)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 6) Voucher: Flynn 6715 (PTBG, US, NIUE)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 27)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 117) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9743 (BISH) "Common and weedy along roadsides and in plantations".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 15)
Niue Niue	Niue Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2000) (voucher ID: PTBG 30167) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 86)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 83)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 563) Introduced, now abundant behind Kokopo; Takabur, Toma, Vunadidir, Tuvui.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 611) Thoroughly naturalized about Baguio, altitude 1,200 to 1,500 m; cultivated in Manila and in other large towns.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 71)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 100401) Taxon name on voucher: Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 68)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 69)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 107)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 32)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Queensland Herbarium (2002) (p. 8)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 288)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 190)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 87) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Ching-I Peng, ed. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 130)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/naturalisé"
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 35)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 363)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  "The Tithonia diversifolia is becoming a terrible pest here [Aitutaki, Cook Islands]; it is just about everywhere, whether the land is cultivated or not, as long as the sun gets to it" (Bill Tschan, pers. com.).

On Niue: "A locally common Central American species that has formed large stands...." (Sykes, 1970, p. 69)

Tithonia diversifolia was reportedly recorded as a "plantation weed" by Yuncker (in 1943) per Sykes, 1970, p.&nbs-p;69.

Control: 

Chemical: 1.5% glyphosate in water reported to be effective (Richard Boon, communication to Aliens list server, 12 July 2000).