The Dahlia is a beautiful flower of varied and vivid colors, native to and representative of Mexico.
The amazing diversity of Dahlias adorns gardens all over the world.
Origin of the Dahlia Flower
The origin of Dahlias can be traced back to Mesoamerica. Dahlias are native to high elevations of Mexico. It is believed that Dahlias were introduced to areas in Central America by the Toltecs or their ancestors.
Dahlias in Pre-Hispanic Mexico
Dahlias were named xicamiti “sweet potato” flowers by the ancient Mexicans. The name may stem from xicami, because of its tuberous root. Dahlias reproduce by bulbs. It was also known as acocoxóchitl, which means “hollow stems with water”.
Dahlias were domesticated, cultivated, crossed, and reproduced in pre-Hispanic Mexico. Dahlias were highly appreciated for their shape, color, and medicinal and nutritional qualities. Dahlias were used to decorate houses and temples. Artisans depicted them in garments and utensils. Natural dyes were obtained from the petals to dye cotton fabrics.
In pre-Hispanic cuisine, the petals and tubers of Dahlias were used to prepare food and for aromatic mixtures.
Dahlias were also used in traditional medicine.
Characteristics of Dahlias
Dahlia, (genus Dahlia), species of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae). Dahlias belong to the botanical family of compounds. These are characterized by a set of flowers that function as one flower.
Dahlias are different from other compound flowers. Dahlias have tuberous potato-like roots, hollow stems, and pinnate leaves.
Dahlias are tuberous perennials. Their leaves are simple, segmented, and toothed.
Dahlia compound flowers are white, yellow, red, or purple.
In the wild, species of Dahlias have both disk and ray flowers in the flowering heads.
There are many varieties of ornamentals.
Dahlias begin to flower late in the summer and continue flowering until autumn.
Natural Environment
There are 43 species of dahlias, all from the American continent. 36 species of dahlias are endemic to Mexico.
Dahlias are present in 26 Mexican states. The states of Hidalgo and Oaxaca have the highest number of species.
Dahlias commonly inhabit coniferous and oak forests. Distribution ranges from 24 to 3810 m elevation, with the largest number of species growing between 2000 and 2500 m. Distribution varies according to the type of Dahlia. For example, Dahlia macdougallii, grows only in one locality in the state of Oaxaca.
In Mexico, there are two areas of high Dahlia richness, in the northeastern part of the state of Querétaro, eastern Guanajuato and southeastern San Luis Potosí, and the northwestern part of the state of Oaxaca. These are mountainous areas. The Sierra Gorda in the state of Querétaro concentrates the largest number of species.
23 species live within a Natural Protected Area in Mexico.
Mexico represents the main source of Dahlia germplasm.
Types of Dahlias
Dahlia cultivars are classed into a variety of types. These include single, double, pompon, cactus, waterlily, peony-flowered, and dinnerplate dahlias.
Species vary in size, color, and form. Some species have been cultivated and bred to produce an array of cultivars and hybrids.
In ornamental horticulture, the genetic improvements have spawned more than 15,000 varieties. About 50,000 varieties of Dahlias are cultivated all over the world.
Production of Dahlias in Mexico
In 2018, national Dahlia production in Mexico was 308,750 plants.
In 2021, the production of Dahlias in Mexico City was more than 229,000 plants.
The State of Tlaxcala has the largest production of Dahlias.
Nationally, the total volume is about 317,000 plants.
Health
According to research conducted at the Autonomous University of Chapingo (UACH), consuming dahlia root helps reduce glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Did you know?
On May 13, 1963, President Adolfo López Mateos decreed the Dahlia as the National Flower of Mexico, at the request of the Botanical Society of Mexico, the National Union of Floriculturists and Nurserymen of Mexico, and the newspaper Excelsior, among others.
Author: AllMexico.store
References
Mexican Government
Riqueza, distribución geográfica y estado de conservación del género Dahlia (Asteraceae) en México DOI: https://doi.org/10.21829/abm126.2019.1354