Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray

Large, shrublike herb to 2 m tall; stems drying green, striate, puberulent. Leaves alternate, ovate, or cuneiform, apically acuminate or acute, basally acuminate, entire and 2-3-lobed, the lobes acute with broad, rounded sinuses, the margins often crenate, darker and scabriduous above with short, stout, hairs, some with multicellular bases, beneath glandular and with weak white rugose hairs; petiole slender, basally clasping, often auriculate. Inflorescence of solitary or clustered terminal heads on elongate, apically expanded, striate, puberulent peduncles 8-15 cm long. Heads radiate, large and showy; involucre 25-40 mm across, the bracts in several series of at least 2 different sizes, broadly ovate and prominently veined, the outermost to 10 mm long, apically short acuminate or acute, the innermost twice as long, apically acute, obtuse or rounded; paleas hyaline, completely enclosing the ovary; ray florets several in one series, the ligules 4-5 cm long, apically 2-3-dentate, puberulent outside, drying with conspicuous nerves, the tube 2 mm long, the ovary abortive, 4 mm long, triquetrous, pilose, with a well-developed pappus; disc florets numerous, ca. 15 mm long, the corolla tubular, pubescent outside, the lobes yellow, narrowly obtuse with thickened, dorsally pubescent margins, the anthers black, 5 mm long, the apical appendages yellow, expanded and slightly enfolded, the basal auricles connate, the filaments flattened, ventrally puberulent, the ovary fertile, the style branches flattened, pubescent on both sides and tomentose dorsally at the base of the narrow appendage, the style base bulbous, 0.5 mm across, the nectary stipitate, crateriform, enclosing the base of the stylar bulb. Achene body 5 mm long, flat, somewhat triquetrous, the endocarp blackish, appearing grey under the dense ascending white indumentum; carpopodium inconspicuous; pappus of two sturdy, persistent, 5 mm long awns and a ring of broad, 2-3 mm long, distinct scales.

In Australia, an invasive weed of damp but well-drained roadsides, embankments and wasteland, and disturbed woodland and rainforest margins in east-coastal Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, from sea level to at least 760 m alt. A single early collection from Western Australia probably represents an ephemeral escape from cultivation (West Perth, June 1910, A. Morrison s.n., K).

The seeds are eaten roasted. They can be processed into cooking oil. The disk of the flower head can be eaten.

It can be grown by seeds or from rhizomes. It can be grown from cuttings.