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HELIANTHUS

?Helianthus
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Helianthoideae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Helianthus
L.
Species

See text.

The Helianthus L. genus comprises 67 species and several subspecies in the Asteraceae family, all of which are native to North America.

However, at least the two species Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) are cultivated in Europe and other parts of the world today.

These are usually tall, annual or perennial plants, growing to a height of 60-390 cm. The rough and hairy stem is branched in the upper part. The petiolate leaves are dentate and often sticky. The lower leaves are opposite, ovate or often heart-shaped. The upper leaves are alternate and narrower.

They bear several to many wide, terminal capitula (flower heads), with bright yellow ray florets at the outside and maroon disc florets inside. These flower heads follow the direction of the sun, going from east to west during the day.

Helianthus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Helianthus.

Species

  • Helianthis agrestis : Southeastern Sunflower
  • Helianthus angustifolius : Swamp Sunflower
  • Helianthus annuus : Sunflower, Mirasol
  • Helianthus anomalus : Western Sunflower
  • Helianthus argophyllus  : Silverleaf Sunflower
  • Helianthus arizonensis : Arizona Sunflower
  • Helianthus atrorubens
  • Helianthus bolanderi : Serpentine Sunflower
  • Helianthus californicus : California Sunflower
  • Helianthus carnosus : Lakeside Sunflower
  • Helianthus ciliaris : Texas Blueweed
  • Helianthus cinereus
  • Helianthus cusickii : Cusick's Sunflower
  • Helianthus debilis : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
    • Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
    • Helianthus debelis ssp. debilis : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
    • Helianthus debilis ssp. silvestris : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
    • Helianthus debilis ssp. tardiflorus : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
    • Helianthus debilis ssp. vestitus : Cucumberleaf Sunflower
  • Helianthus decapetalus : Thinleaf Sunflower
  • Helianthus divaricatus
  • Helianthus eggertii : Eggert's Sunflower
  • Helianthus floridanus : Florida Sunflower
  • Helianthus giganteus
  • Helianthus glaucophyllus : Whiteleaf Sunflower

External links

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