Smooth sunflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth sunflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Helianthus
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| Species: |
laevigatus
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| Synonyms | |
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The Helianthus laevigatus, also known as the smooth sunflower, is a type of sunflower plant. It grows naturally in North America. You can find it in the eastern and southeastern parts of the United States. This includes states from Georgia all the way up to Maryland.
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What is the Smooth Sunflower?
The smooth sunflower is a plant that lives for many years. This means it doesn't die after one growing season. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching over 7 feet (220 cm) high!
How Does It Grow?
This plant spreads using special underground stems called rhizomes. Think of rhizomes like underground roots that can send up new shoots. This helps the plant grow in new spots nearby.
Most of its leaves grow along the main stem, not just at the bottom. Each leaf can be up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. The leaves and stems usually feel smooth because they don't have hairs. Sometimes, the underside of the leaves looks a bit pale. This is because they have a thin layer of wax on them.
What Do Its Flowers Look Like?
A single smooth sunflower plant usually has one to six flower heads. Each flower head looks like one big flower, but it's actually made of many tiny flowers grouped together.
Each head has 5 to 10 bright yellow "ray florets." These are the petal-like parts you see around the edge. In the center, there are 40 or more "disc florets." These are the small, tightly packed yellow flowers that make up the middle part of the sunflower.
Where Does It Live?
The smooth sunflower likes to grow in certain types of soil. It often grows in soil that comes from shale. Shale is a type of rock that breaks easily into thin layers. This plant is well-suited to these specific soil conditions.
