Contemplating sunflowers usually gives us joy thanks to their large size and bright yellow color. It’s hard to look at them and not think about the beautiful hot summer days. Undoubtedly, these flowers are among the most famous, But would you know what the parts of a sunflower are?
While it is true that the fame of these plants has nothing to envy to that of other flowers, very few people really know what parts a sunflower is made of. To get you out of doubt, We are going to comment on each of them and reveal some very curious facts about these vegetables.
What is the sunflower and its parts?
Before talking about the parts of a sunflower, we will first explain what this vegetable is. It’s a plant whose main characteristic is its heliotropic property. This means that it always orients itself facing the sun, while keeping a diurnal trajectory. Thus, we can observe how throughout a day, the flower of this vegetable slowly rotates, chasing the great star that illuminates our solar system. It is for this reason that it receives the name “sunflower”.
This beautiful yellow flower is native to North America, but over time it has also moved to Peru and Mexico. Today it is grown in many places on the planet, including the European continent. We can say that sunflower can only grow in dry, sunny soils, because its roots reach very deep layers of the earth.
The sunflower is an annual plant that is very striking in its size and beautiful flower. It is able to reach a height of up to three meters. It is made up of different parts, which we will talk about below.
Domain
Let’s start with a basic element of plants: the roots. It is this part that fixes the plant to the ground. In the case of sunflower, there is a main root and several secondary ones. They are generally strong and quite fibrous. The roots of sunflowers are able to reach a depth of up to one meter below the surface.
Right in the area where the main root meets the stem, the sunflower is weakest. For this reason, fertilizers should not be applied to this area, otherwise we could damage the plant, which could end up rotting.
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Stem
As for the stem of the sunflower, it is generally very straight, thick and robust. Its growth is continuous and can reach up to three meters in height. It has no branches, but it does It has stiff hairs that cover it to protect it. At the end there is a circular enlargement, very similar to a plate. The central part is always facing the sun. It should be noted that this part of the sunflower is quite susceptible to weevils called stem weevils.
You probably already know that the famous pipes and also sunflower oil for cooking are obtained from this flower. But did you know that the stem of this plant can also be used? Yes, for other purposes. Sunflower stalks can be used as fuel. In addition, with them you can create textile fibers and paper pulp.
Sheets
Among the parts of a sunflower are also the leaves. These are usually distinguished by their large size and heart shape. The edge of it is serrated, which is quite reminiscent of a saw. As in the stem, the leaves are protected by small stiff hairs which entirely cover their surface. These little hairs are green, which looks much darker at the top.
There are some species of these vegetables whose leaves are much smaller, about the size of a coin. In contrast, other types of sunflowers have leaves as large as a human head. This difference mainly depends on the species we grow. What all sunflower leaves have in common, regardless of type, is that its color is dark green.
What is the inside of a sunflower called?
Surely you have already realized that we have omitted to comment on the most important part of the sunflower: the head. In botany, it is called “chapter” and it is really a type of inflorescence. Contrary to what one might think, the sunflower is not a single large flower, but rather composed of many small, tuberous flowers. All are located piled above a flattened receptacle and are known as florets. Together, these florets create a spiral-like pattern, forming the characteristic large head of the sunflower. In total, there are two different types of flowers that make up the chapter of this plant:
- Tubular flowers: These flowers are those found in the center of the inflorescence. Its color is yellowish brown. Additionally, they are hermaphroditic, which means they have both male and female organs. It should also be noted that each of them has five stamens which together form the androecium.
- ray flowers: The ray florets are the marginal ones. Their corolla is yellow and they have a short tube that elongates, giving them a tongue-like shape. Unlike the previous ones, these flowers are sterile and have neither stamens nor pistils. The function of ray florets is to attract pollinating insects.
Seeds
Sunflower seeds, better known as pipes, could not be missing either. These are embedded right in the center of the head. Pipes are not only a delicious snack, but they are also used to extract oil. They are basically a kind of achene considered as a dry fruit. When shelling sunflower seeds, the pipe remains, which is edible and is also the core of this plant.
At first glance, sunflowers look like simple large flowers, but in reality they are plants with many curiosities.