Common sunflower | plant (2024)

, sunflowers, Helianthus annuus), for instance, the outer (or ray) flowers have a well-developed zygomorphic corolla, and the inner (disk) flowers have a small actinomorphic corolla. The inner disk flowers generally are complete flowers, and the ray flowers generally are sterile.

The common sunflower (H. annuus) is an annual herb with a rough hairy stem 1–4.5 metres (3–15 feet) high and broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves 7.5–30 cm (3–12 inches) long arranged in spirals. The attractive heads of flowers are 7.5–15 cm wide in wild specimens and…

…importance is Helianthus annuus (sunflower), a native of North America. Sunflower seeds are excellent poultry feed and produce an oil commonly used as a salad or cooking oil, as well as in the manufacture of margarine, soap, paint, and varnish. Oil cake is fed to livestock, and the whole…