Helianthus annuus L.

by Patty Latimer, Native Plants of Arizona 2005
Common names: common sunflower, annual sunflower, sunflower, wild sunflower (1)
Family: Asteraceae (1)
Synonymy: Helianthus annuus L. ssp. jaegeri (Heiser) Heiser, Helianthus annuus L. ssp. lenticulans (Dougl. ex Lindl.) Cockerell, Helianthus annuus L. var. lenticularis (Dougl. ex Lindl.) Stevermark, Helianthus annuus L. var. macrocarpus (DC.) Cockerell, Helianthus annuus L. ssp. texanus Heiser, Helianthus annuus L. var. texanus (Heiser) Shinners, Helianthus aridus Rydb., Helianthus lenticularis Dougl. ex Lindl. (1)
Etymology: Helianthus means sunflower from the Greek words helios “sun” +anthos “flower”; annuus “year” refers to annual growth form (2)

Identification
Growth form: Tall coarse annual herb
Roots: Tap-root (1)
Stem: Rough-hairy (1, 4), erect, simple to many branches 30 to 200 cm tall (3).
Leaves: Alternate (1), simple (3), widely lanceolate to widely ovate with long petioles, about 10 – 40 cm long (4), toothed margins (3), glabrous to rough and hairy.
Inflorescence/flowers: Can be few to many heads 7.5-15 cm (1), phyllaries leafy, recepticle chaffy, with one outer row of yellow ray (3-4cm (5)) and many red-brown disk flowers (15-40mm (5)) (1, 4).
Fruit: Achene, pappus scales 3-12mm (4)
Similar species: H. annuus may be confused with Helianthus petiolaris but is easily separated by being smaller and having smaller, more narrow leaves.

Ecology
Life history: Annual (4)
Native/introduced: Native to North America (3).
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: Flowers July – October, with variability due to hybridization. (4)
Distribution: Likes roadsides or disturbed areas. Widespread, North America, southern Canada and Mexico under 1900 m elevation (1). Found in all Arizona counties 1000 – 7100 ft (5).

Uses
Many important uses to Indians across America, for a staple foods such as a flour made by the Apache and Cahuilla Indians, used in ceremonies by the Navajo Indians, and as a medicine against injuries such as snakebites (6).
Sunflowers are also grown horticulturally (in gardens), industrially (for fuel and animal feed), and agriculturally (snacks and oil) (1).

References

1. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov) . National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

2. Harper, D. 2001. Online Etymology Dictionary ( http://www.etymonline.com/ )

3. Whitson, T. et al. 1992. Weeds of the West. The Western Society of Weed Science. Newark, CA. 94560

4. University and Jepson Herbaria ( http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ ). University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465 USA.

5. McDougall, W. B. 1973. Seed Plants of Northern Arizona. The Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, AZ

6. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany Database ( http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA .

Helianthus annuus L. by Patty Latimer, Native Plants of Arizona 2005 Common names: common sunflower, annual sunflower, sunflower, wild sunflower (1) Family: Asteraceae (1) Synonymy: Helianthus annuus L. ssp. jaegeri (Heiser) Heiser, Helianthus annuus L. ssp. lenticulans (Dougl. ex Lindl.) Cockerell, Helianthus annuus L. var. lenticularis (Dougl. ex Lindl.) Stevermark, Helianthus annuus L. var. macrocarpus (DC.) Cockerell, Helianthus annuus L. ssp. texanus Heiser, Helianthus annuus L. var. texanus (Heiser) Shinners, Helianthus aridus Rydb., Helianthus lenticularis Dougl. ex Lindl. (1) Etymology: Helianthus means sunflower from the Greek words helios “sun” +anthos “flower”; annuus “year” refers to annual growth form (2) Identification Growth form: Tall coarse annual herb Roots: Tap-root (1) Stem: Rough-hairy (1, 4), erect, simple to many branches 30 to 200 cm tall (3). Leaves: Alternate (1), simple (3), widely lanceolate to widely ovate with long petioles, about 10 – 40 cm long (4), toothed margins (3), glabrous to rough and hairy. Inflorescence/flowers: Can be few to many heads 7.5-15 cm (1), phyllaries leafy, recepticle chaffy, with one outer row of yellow ray (3-4cm (5)) and many red-brown disk flowers (15-40mm (5)) (1, 4). Fruit: Achene, pappus scales 3-12mm (4) Similar species: H. annuus may be confused with Helianthus petiolaris but is easily separated by being smaller and having smaller, more narrow leaves. Ecology Life history: Annual (4) Native/introduced: Native to North America (3). Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Flowers July – October, with variability due to hybridization. (4) Distribution: Likes roadsides or disturbed areas. Widespread, North America, southern Canada and Mexico under 1900 m elevation (1). Found in all Arizona counties 1000 – 7100 ft (5). Uses Many important uses to Indians across America, for a staple foods such as a flour made by the Apache and Cahuilla Indians, used in ceremonies by the Navajo Indians, and as a medicine against injuries such as snakebites (6). Sunflowers are also grown horticulturally (in gardens), industrially (for fuel and animal feed), and agriculturally (snacks and oil) (1). References 1. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov) . National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. 2. Harper, D. 2001. Online Etymology Dictionary ( http://www.etymonline.com/ ) 3. Whitson, T. et al. 1992. Weeds of the West. The Western Society of Weed Science. Newark, CA. 94560 4. University and Jepson Herbaria ( http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ ). University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465 USA. 5. McDougall, W. B. 1973. Seed Plants of Northern Arizona. The Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, AZ 6. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany Database ( http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA .