PERENNIAL SUNFLOWERS 



there is also a dwarf of this variety; the Russian Giant is the form 

 cultivated in Russia for its seeds, which are sold upon the streets 

 as peanuts are sold with us, and eaten raw. 



The Sunflower is grown as a commercial crop in southern Europe, 

 in Egypt, and in India. The products are the seeds, the oil that is 

 extracted from them, and the oil-cake that remains. The fibre 

 of the stems is very strong and makes a thread that looks like silk. 

 It is clear that there are commercial possibilities in the plant were 

 it worth while to develop them. 



It is well to grow the Sunflower just to renew one's acquaintance 

 with the yellow-birds. On their autumnal migration they seek 

 Sunflower seeds and will visit almost anybody who has them. 



Helianthus debilis is the primitive of the common, small, annual 

 Sunflower. The stem branches freely from the base making a 

 bushy plant. The leaves are ovate to triangular, generally cordate, 

 glossy, irregularly toothed or entire, and the flower-heads have a 

 spread of two to three inches. This species is largely grown for 

 cut flowers; in the type the centre is dark. It appears in both 

 single and double forms and does best in a sandy soil. 



PERENNIAL SUNFLOWERS. HELIANTHUS 



Helidnihus decapMalus. Helidnthus rlgidus. Helidnthus ItBliflbrus. 



The Perennial Sunflowers are in the main either the type or the 

 variation of three North American Helianthi — decapetalus, rigidus, and 

 IcBtiflorus. They appear single, semi-double, and full double. July to 

 October. 



Stem. — ^Vary from two to eight feet, stiff, more or less branching, 

 more or less leafy. 



Leaves. — Sessile or short-petioled; in Helianthus rigidus six to twelve 

 inches long, firm, thick, rough -hairy, ovate to broad-lanceolate, entire 

 or slightly toothed, narrowed at the base into a winged petiole; in 

 Helianthus decapetalus three to eight inches long, ovate-lanceolate, 

 sharply serrate, rough above, pubescent beneath; in Helianthus Iceti- 

 florus four to eight inches long, ovate -lanceolate, rough above and below, 

 more or less serrate. 



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