Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs. Leaves usually alternate, entire or lobed. Peduncles long, swollen below the capitulum. Capitula large, showy, solitary, heterogamous, radiate. Ray florets neuter, disk florets bisexual. Phyllaries in 2-5 series. Receptacular scales clasping the florets, persistent. Achenes 4-sided. Pappus a crown of short scales with usually 1-2 additional awns. Derivation of name: from Tithonus of Greek mythology, brother of Priam. Worldwide: 11 species, from SW USA to Central America Mozambique: 2 taxa. |
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