Touch Me Feel Me #1
by Bruce Bley
Title
Touch Me Feel Me #1
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This close-up macro shot of a sunflower was taken on a recent drive in the country side near my home. I enjoy taking macro shots of flowers illustrating the interesting patterns nature has to offer plus the various colors in nature.
Helianthus (sunflower) is a genus of plants comprising about 52 species in the Asteraceae family, all of which are native to North America. The common name "sunflower" also applies to the popular annual species Helianthus annuus. This and other species, notably Jerusalem artichoke (H. tuberosus), are cultivated in temperate regions as food crops and ornamental plants.
The genus is one of many in the Asteraceae that are known as sunflowers. It is distinguished technically by the fact that the ray flowers, when present, are sterile, and by the presence on the disk flowers of a pappus that is of two awn-like scales that are cauducous (that is, easily detached and falling at maturity). Some species also have additional shorter scales in the pappus, and there is one species that lacks a pappus entirely. Another technical feature that distinguishes the genus more reliably, but requires a microscope to see, is the presence of a prominent, multicellular appendage at the apex of the style.
There is quite a bit of variability among the perennial species that make up the bulk of the species in the genus. Some have most or all of the large leaves in a rosette at the base of the plant and produce a flowering stem that has leaves that are reduced in size. Most of the perennials have disk flowers that are entirely yellow, but a few have disk flowers with reddish lobes. One species, H. radula, lacks ray flowers altogether.
The domesticated sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is the most familiar species. Perennial sunflower species are not as popular for gardens due to their tendency to spread rapidly and become invasive.
I hope you have enjoyed this photograph and will share it with others. You can see more of my work on my homepage. Thank you for visiting and please come back.
Uploaded
September 15th, 2014
Statistics
Viewed 714 Times - Last Visitor from White Plains, NY on 03/28/2024 at 4:54 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Similar Images
Comments (17)
Bruce Bley
Colin. I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Flowers". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Thank you for the feature in the group "Pleasing The Eye", Jeff. I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Jay, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Amateur Photographers- 2 Entries Per Day Please". I really appreciate your support of my work.
Bruce Bley
Christy, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "The Beauty in Nature". I truly appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Denyse, I appreciate the feature in the group "Amazing FAA Photographers". Thank you for your support and the honor.
Bruce Bley
Svetlana. I am very grateful for the feature in the group "The World We See". Thank you so much.
Bruce Bley
Stefon, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Appreciating Works From All Mediums". I really appreciate it and thank you for your support.
Bruce Bley
Kim, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Flora". I appreciate it very much.
Bruce Bley
Neal, I appreciate the feature in the "Macro Photography Group". Thank you so much for the honor.
Recently Viewed
