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Asteraceae Family - "Western Sunflower"
Helianthus is from the Greek word helios meaning "sun" and anthos for "flower" and occidentalis meaning "western".
Grows 2 to 3 feet tall with 1 to 2 inch wide yellow flowers. Small white hairs cover the stem and there are up to 5 sets of opposite or three-whorled leaves along the stem. Basal leaves are conspicuous and are up to 6 inches long. Found occasinally now on dry, sandy or rocky prairies and on hill prairies in the eastern Tallgrass region.
The seeds of the sunflowers have been used as food by both man and animals. An oil can be extracted from the seeds and can be used for cooking or making soap. Often, the fibers from the coarse stalks of the sunflower have been used for textiles.
Natural hybridization occurs between the numerous Helianthus species, often with very pleasing and interesting results.
