大波斯菊

Annuals, erect, stem usually single, from a taproot, sparsely branched apically, branches ascending, 0.6-2 m tall, glabrous or minutely hispidulous, especially at nodes, hispidulous in lines on stem, and on peduncle. Leaves 6-11 cm long, sessile or petiole to ca. 7 mm long, bi- or tripinnately dissected into narrowly linear or almost capillary segments, segments to 3 cm×0.4-1.2 mm, apex acute, indurate. Heads (3-)4.5-8 cm wide, peduncle 5-20 cm long; involucre cup shaped; outer involucral bracts ca. 8, lanceolate-subulate, 5-7-nerved, 9-13 mm long, scarcely shorter than bracts of inner series; inner involucral bracts elliptic-lanceolate or ovate, 3-5 mm wide. Ray florets commonly 8, white, pink to red, ligules to 3×1.8 cm, ovate; disc florets numerous, ca. 60-100, yellow, 6-7 mm long. Achenes linear to clavate or fusiform, often curved, 7-16 mm long. Pappus awns 2(-3), 1-1.5 mm long.

HSINCHU: Szumakuszu, Lai s.n. 1998.

Native of Mexico, now widely cultivated around the world. Taiwan, widely cultivated for ornamental purposes, sometimes escaping at mid elevations.

This is one of the most popular garden annuals and it is widely cultivated for its showy flowers. The ligules vary in garden forms from an intense wine-red through various shades of red and pink to pure white.