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southwestern cosmos

Scientific Name: Cosmos parviflorus

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Cosmos parviflorus: Southwestern Cosmos

Cosmos parviflorus, commonly known as Southwestern Cosmos, is a North American species belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cosmos parviflorus (Jacq.) Pers.
  • Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
  • Genus: Cosmos Cav.
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms: Coreopsis parviflora Jacq.

Common Names

  • Southwestern Cosmos
  • Juve (likely a local name)
  • Wild Cosmos

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America.
  • While primarily a southwestern species, it has been recorded in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island.
  • Observed in the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA.
  • Found in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico.
  • Observed in Brown Canyon, Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Grows to a height of 2-3 feet.
  • Branched several times in the upper half of the plant.
  • Features a single flower head, approximately 1 1/4 inches across.
  • Annual forb plant.

Ecology and Interactions

  • Considered a non-native "waif" in some regions.

Further Information

  • Discover Life: Provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cosmos parviflorus.
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
  • Flora of North America
  • New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences