HELIANTHUS ANNUUS

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Sunflower

Synonyms:- Helianthus platycephalus.

Meaning:- Helianthus (Gr) Sun-flower.

Annuus (L) One year, annual.

General description:- Coarse, rough, scaly, hairy surface, usually unbranched

annual up to 3 m.

Leaves:-

1) Simple the lower opposite the others usually alternate10-40 x 5-35 cm, broadly

ovate.

2) Lower, cordate at the base. usually dentate. 3-veined, petiolate.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula up to 30 cm in diam., usually solitary, more or less nodding.

2) Involucral bracts overlapping, ovate-oblong 25 mm. acuminate, ciliate.

3) Receptacle flat or nearly so.

4) Ligules at least 25 mm.

5) Inner florets brownish.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 5-15 mm. hairy.

Key features:-

1) Receptacle flat or nearly so.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated and fallow ground, disturbed places, roadsides, banks, open

dry shrubby vegetation. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean Widespread

but uncommon on Crete.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton