နေကြာရိုင်း

Myanmar Name –  Nay-kyar-yaing

Common Name – Mexican sunflower

Botanical Name – Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray

Family Name – Asteraceae

Habitat – Native to Mexico and Central America.

Habit – Perennial herb or subshrub that can grow up to 3 meters tall. It has a bushy growth habit and forms dense thickets.

Stem – Generally thin and green when the plant is young, becoming brownish and slightly rough with age. The stems are hollow and brittle, which is typical for many herbaceous plants.

Leaves – Large, opposite, and deeply lobed with 3 to 5 lobes, resembling a maple leaf in shape. They are dark green, rough-textured on the upper surface.

Inflorescence – A terminal cluster of flower heads, which are bright and showy. The flower heads are borne singly at the end of branches, each on a long stalk, and are typically 7.5-15 cm (3-6 inches) in diameter.

Flower – Bright orange to yellow, resembling daisies. Each flower head consists of numerous small disc florets in the center, surrounded by larger ray florets. The ray florets are usually 10-15 in number and are strap-shaped.

Fruit & Seed – An achene, which is a small, dry, single-seeded fruit that does not open at maturity. Each achene is typically 6-10 mm long and has a pappus (a modified calyx that aids in wind dispersal) of two rough awns. The seeds are black, angular, and about 3-4 mm long.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – Flowering time from October to March and Fruiting time from November to April.

Usage – Cultivated as an ornamental plant.