Sunflower
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Sunflower |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
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Helianthus annuus |
The sunflower is a member of the genus Helianthus. It is an annual plant with a large flowering head which makes it so recognizable. It has become so well-known and loved for its beauty that the Kansas, USA has made it the state flower.
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Anatomy
The word, "sunflower" can be used to describe all plants in the genus Helianthus. The head of the sunflower is actually a group of flowers spaced very closely to one another. The flowers on the outside are called ray florets, and they come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to orange to maroon. The flowers bunched together inside the head are called disc florets.
Some sunflower heads can be over 1 foot in diameter. The sunflower is a rapid grower, and can get eight to twelve feet tall. There are dwarf forms of sunflowers that grow to be only 2 feet tall.
Reproduction
The disc florets, the flowers on the inside of the head, eventually mature into seeds. These are not actually seeds, but can be considered the fruits of the sunflower. The actual seeds are inside of the in-edible husk that is used to protect them. Seeds are transported through two mechanisms; either the sunflower will droop it's head and drop the seeds onto the ground while the other way is birds and rodents eat the seeds. Through their excrement the seeds then have the ability to germinate.
Ecology
As the name implies, sunflowers need a lot of sun to fully develop. As with most plants they grow best in well drained soil, lots of mulch, and lots of water. The sunflower is native to California, Minnesota, Texas, also Central and South America.
Uses
One of the most common uses are sunflower fruits, which are sold as a snack food, especially in the United States, Europe, and China. They are also used as bird food. One of the new uses for sunflower seeds is in the productino of bio-diesel. In the past, olive products have been used in bio-diesel, but sunflower seeds are cheaper and in greater quantity.
Related References
- sunflower Ohio State University
- Sunflower Wikipedia
- Sunflowers Answers Corporation
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