- stem, leaves, flower, root
- structure of the flower
- Blossoms and leaves follow the sun
- The "Golden Angle"
- tips and tricks
Most gardeners give little thought to the structure of a plant. It plays an important role in the thriving of the sunflower, which belongs to the daisy family. It ensures that the sunflower receives the optimal light and nutritional conditions.
The blossom of the sunflower is particularly special
stem, leaves, flower, root
A sunflower is made up of the following parts:
- root
- tribe
- leaf
- flowerhead
The sunflower consists of a short to very long, hairy stem, depending on the size of the variety, on which large, heart-shaped leaves grow alternately.
The flower develops one or more flower heads that have a structure all of their own.
The root also plays a major role, as it ultimately determines that the sunflower can absorb enough nutrients. The more the sunflower root can spread, the larger the stalk, leaves, and flowers will be.
structure of the flower
The sunflower blossom is something very special because it is made up of different parts.
In the middle of the flower head are the small tubular flowers, which are usually brown and from which the cores later develop.
The colored petals on the edge are ray florets. They give the sunflower its characteristic appearance. They are often yellow, but can also be red and orange, such as in the "evening sun" sunflower.
Blossoms and leaves follow the sun
The flowers and leaves follow the course of the sun on sunny days. This is known in technical terms as heliotropism.
The reason for the "rotation" is that the plant grows faster in the shaded areas than in those that receive direct sunlight. As a result, the flower heads and the leaves are always directed in the direction of the sun.
Only when the older flowers and leaves are too firm do they no longer turn with the sun.
The "Golden Angle"
The blossom of the sunflower has another special feature. The brown tubular flowers are arranged in a spiral. As a result, every small tubular flower receives the optimum amount of sunlight. Gardeners refer to this structure of the sunflower blossom as the "golden angle".
tips and tricks
Even though the sunflower is non-toxic, only the seeds are used in the kitchen. The other parts of the plant absorb pollutants from the soil and are therefore not suitable for consumption.