Peruvian Zinnia

Zinnia peruviana is presumably native in southern Arizona and reported as naturalized in southeastern United States.

Annuals, mostly 30–50(–100) cm. Stems greenish, becoming purplish or yellowish, unbranched or sparingly branched distal to bases, strigose. Leaf blades 3–5-nerved, ovate to elliptic or broadly lanceolate, 25–70 × 8–35 mm, scabrellous. Peduncles 10–50(–70) mm. Involucres narrowly to broadly campanulate, 9–18 × 10–20 mm. Phyllaries obovate to oblong, becoming scarious, glabrous, apices rounded, usually entire or erose, sometimes ciliate. Paleae red to purple or yellow, apices obtuse, erose or subentire. Ray florets 6–15(–21); corollas usually scarlet red or maroon, sometimes yellow, laminae linear to spatulate, 8–25 mm. Disc florets 12–50; corollas yellow, 5–6 mm, lobes ca. 1 mm. Cypselae 7–10 mm, 3-angled (ray) or compressed (disc), ribbed, ciliate; pappi usually of 1 stout awn 4–6 mm (from shoulders of cypselae). 2n = 24.

Anaturalised plant, native of Mexico.

1300-2500 m

Chrysogonum peruvianum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 920. 1753; Zinnia multiflora Linnaeus