Cosmos bipinnatus Cav. Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Mexico Cosmos

                                             June Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Glabrous or somewhat pubescent annual, 7-10 ft. high; lvs. opposite, 2-4 in. long, bipinnately cut into remote linear to filiform entire lobes; heads 2-3 in. across; rays white, pink or crimson, truncate or somewhat toothed, neutral; disk fls. bisexual and fertile, yellow; involucral bracts in 2 series, connate at base; receptacle flat, chaffy; achenes glabrous, linear, .33-.50 in. long, with an abrupt beak much shorter than body.

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation.  Late flowering.

Name: Cos-mos, from a Greek word with a root idea of orderliness; hence an ornament, or beautiful thing.  (Bailey 999).  Latin, bi, prefix meaning two.  Latin, pinnatus, plumed.  (Jaeger 36, 198).  Bipinnatus, twice plumed or cut, referring to the filiform lf. lobes.  (my comment).

General:  Rare in the study area having been found only once and this in the wet sand of the 23rd St. creek bed where a seed had probably been washed down from the Cherry Lake area.  (my comments).       Showy summer and fall blooming plants, open and branching in habit, with bright green divided leaves.  Useful in arrangements if flowers are cut when freshly opened and placed immediately in deep cool water.  Seeds self-sow freely, attract birds.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book, 1984 edition. 255).

Text Ref:  Bailey 999; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book, 1984 edition. 255.

Photo Ref:  May-Aug 94 # 18,20,21.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.  

First Found:  June 1994.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 467

Have plant specimen.

Last Edit 7/30/05.

                                 June Photo                                                                    June Photo