Oct 7, 2022
The Sunflower 🌻 ( Helianthus annuus) is probably the first flower many of us drew as children due to its simple shape and cheerful appearance.
The sunflower was domesticated by the indigenous people of Mexico in prehistoric times for the seeds as a food source. Sunflower cultivation spread as far north as Canada in Precolumbian times. When they are young plants, sunflowers actively turn to face the sun. As mature plants they stay fixed in an East-facing position.
There is an often-repeated Greek myth about Apollo and is admirer Clytie who turned into a sunflower. Of course, the Ancient Greeks did not know about sunflowers, so the original flower in the story was a Turnsole (Heliotropium spp.) which is a native European wild flower.
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