Description
Helianthus (Sun Flower) hee-lee-AN-thus
Sunflower (Helianthus) is an annual plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family that is native to the Americas and widespread in California. It possesses a large flower cluster (flowering head). In the Asteraceae family, what is usually called the flower is actually a head (formally composite flower) of numerous florets (small flowers) crowded together. The outer florets are the ray florets (often sterile). In Sunflower these can be yellow, maroon, orange or other colors. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into seeds.
