|
Photographer: Robert R. Kowal
|
Family Asteraceae
Helianthus annuus L.
common sunflower, garden sunflower
Helianthus: derived from two Greek words helios, "sun," and anthos, "flower," in reference to the sunflower's supposed tendency to always turn toward the sun
annuus: Latin for "yearly" usually referring to a plant which lives only one season
Hazardous 
|
|
| Status: | Introduced - naturalized |
| Plant: | erect, annual, 3'-10' tall forb with leafy, roughly hairy stems |
| Flower: | head 3"-6" wide with yellow rays and a flat, dark disk at least 1 1/4" wide; inflorescence with several heads in a branched cluster, escaped cultivated forms usually with only 1 large head; blooms July-Sept. |
| Fruit: | dry, edible seed |
| Leaf: | mostly alternate, long-stalked, largest wide and oval, rough on both sides |
| Habitat: | sun; moist; disturbed sites |
| (Glossary) |
|
