COMPOSITE FAMILY 



COMPOSITAE 



PRAIRIE SUNFLOWER 



Helianthus grosscserratus Martens 



In many places this is our commonest wild sunflower. It grows 

 on dry or moist prairies and in other open places from western 

 Maine to South Dakota, south through Pennsylvania to Kansas 



and Texas, blooming from Au- 

 gust to October. It is perennial 

 by fleshy roots and slender un- 

 derground stems. 



The 6-io-foot stem is mostly 

 smooth and usually covered 

 with a waxy bloom. The 

 branches are usually somewhat 

 hairy and the leaves are rough 

 above and densely short hairy 

 beneath. The lower leaves are 

 opposite and sharply toothed, 

 whereas the upper are alternate 

 and often nearly entire. 



There are usually several 

 and sometimes many heads. 

 The bracts of the involucre 

 have spreading green tips and 

 are hairy. The 10-20 rays are 

 deep yellow and the disk flow- 

 ers are also yellowish. The 



akenes are nearly smooth and the pappus consists of 2 short awns 



which readily fall away. 



The Common Sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., also common on 

 prairies, along roadsides and in other open places, is often cultivated. 

 Its flowers, blooming from July to September, yield honey and a 

 yellow dye, its leaves may be used for fodder, its seeds yield an oil or 

 they may be fed to chickens, and its stems contain fibers that may 

 be used in making twine. In the wild state it grows 3-10 teet high. 

 The lowest leaves may be opposite but most ot them are alternate. 

 They are broadly ovate, 3-nerved, petioled and toothed. The heads 

 are 3-6 inches broad, the ray flowers being yellow and the disk 

 flowers purple or brown. 



My tall sunflowers love the sun. 

 Love the buruiug August noons 



When the locust tunes its viol, 

 And the cricket croons. 

 Sunflo uers — Cli nton Scollabd 



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