Sunflowers are an iconic symbol of summer, bright and beautiful – and more.
A sunflower’s sunny yellow petals seem to beam out a message of joy and happiness. But have you ever considered what lies at the heart of this flower? The head of a sunflower is a complex structure that plays an important role in the growth and life cycle of the plant. It is also remarkable for its intricate design and adaptability to different conditions. What lies inside the sunflower head are features that make it a uniquely incredible structure.
What exactly is the Sunflower Head?
The sunflower head is actually made up of many individual flowers. It is a pseudanthium, or flowerhead, consisting of many tiny flowers arranged in spirals around a central disk, with each flower facing outward. The disk is made up of the flower base, which includes a stalk and a peduncle. The flowers themselves consist of five petals and an outer ring of many toothed ray florets. Each petal has a green bottom half with a white top half. At the center of each petal, there is a dark brown to blackish spot. The only “downside” is that the flower has a fetid smell. At the base of the flower are five stamens with anthers that are yellow or white and hair-tipped. They are longer than the filaments. The fruit (the seed) is a follicle with five valves.
Sunflower seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, hidden inside the head of a sunflower. Not only are they rich in healthy fats and vitamins, but they are also a great source of edible oil. Sunflower seed oil is full of essential fatty acids and antioxidants that can help improve overall health. As an added bonus, this oil has a light flavor that won’t overpower the taste of your favorite foods.
The most common type of sunflower seed used for extractable oil is black-oil sunflowers. These seeds have thinner shells than other varieties and produce up to 40% more oil per pound than any other type of seed available on the market today. The high yield makes them ideal for commercial production and use in processed foods such as crackers, chips, breads, cookies, sauces and dressings.
A sunflower is truly a work of art.
Each individual flower has its own stem and petals, though they are much smaller than traditional blooms. The center floret is larger than those around it and provides the famous yellow disc that we’ve come to associate with sunflowers. Every other floret produces a small black seed surrounded by thin bristles that help disperse the seeds when ripe and ready for sowing. It’s truly fascinating how Mother Nature can create such magnificent works of art!
Each sunflower image can be “clicked” to see more detail or you can click a link below to see even more choices…
Link to: Bill’s Sunflower Power Wall Art Collection
Link to: Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery
Well, I didn’t know that! I have taken my own share of Sunflower images, but I never knew what was behind its unusual head. Thanks for enlightening me!
Thanks for commenting, Steve. I, too, learned some interesting things about sunflowers in researching this article.
Yes, I’m still on Twitter. Great work on the Sunflowers.