318 PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 
This sunflower is our common species of the north and we 
are familiar with seeing it along the roadsides, where it often 
forms a most gorgeous hedge. 
H. méllis, plate CLXI, is found from Ohio southward and 
westward. It is one of the most beautiful of the family. 
The leaves are heart-ovate, opposite and clasping, and the 
whole plant is covered with a white wool, which gives it a misty 
look. It is quite remarkable how well the coloured plate rep- 
resents this effect. ‘lhe plant is from two to four feet high. 
HT. divaricatus has large showy flower-heads and opposite. 
ovate-lanceolate leaves that are rounded at the base. It is 
also partial to the roadsides and banks. 
H{. énnus is the garden species with which we are all familiar. 
In Europe it is cultivated for its seeds, which are fed to 
sheep, pigs and poultry. ‘They are also the principal food of 
parrots. 
According to the mythological] tradition of the Greeks the 
sunflower is none other than the fair water-nymph Clytie, who 
was transformed into the flower. When she found that her 
mad love for Apollo was not returned she grieved greatly, and 
sat nine days upon the ground neither eating nor drinking but 
watching intently the sun. Her head she turned gradually to 
follow him as he travelled from east to west. At last her limbs — 
became rooted to the ground and her face became a sunflower. 
Even to-day the illusion is prevalent that the sunflower, the 
emblem of constancy, turns its face to follow the course of the 
sun. Moore alludes to it in— . 
“ The heart that has truly loved never forgets 
But as truly loves on to the close 
As the sunflower turns -on her god when he sets 
The same look that she turned when he rose.” 
In ancient sculpture the sunflower has ever been a favourite 
decoration, and especially has it been looked upon as sacred in 
those countries that have worshipped the sun. 

