Sunflower Anatomy in 3D: Flower Head, Seeds, Stem and Roots
A sunflower's giant flower head is really hundreds of tiny flowers packed together. In the 3D Plant Anatomy simulator you can turn a sunflower around, zoom into each part, slice it open and watch water rise through it in X-ray.
Explore in 3DFour ways to see the sunflower
Whole plant
Cross-section
X-ray water flowSunflower quick facts
| Plant group | Flowering plant, daisy family |
|---|---|
| Height | Often 1.5 to 3 m |
| Life cycle | Annual, grows and dies in one year |
| Native to | North America |
| Flower head | Hundreds to thousands of tiny flowers |
Inside the sunflower
Slice a sunflower stem and you find bundles of tiny tubes arranged in a ring. Some carry water up from the roots, and others carry sugar down from the leaves. The flower head sits on top, packed with florets that each become a seed.
Parts of the sunflower
In the Parts up close view you can tap each of these parts to zoom in:
- Tiny flowers
- The big flower head is really hundreds of tiny flowers, called florets, packed in a spiral. Each one can turn into a seed.
- One floret
- Cut open, a single floret shows its pollen-making stamens and the ovary where the seed will grow.
- Seed
- A sunflower seed is a hard shell with the kernel inside, packed with oil and food for the new plant.
- Stem
- Inside the stem, bundles of tubes carry water up from the roots and sugar down from the leaves.
- Leaf
- Broad leaves catch sunlight and turn it into food for the plant.
- Roots
- Fine root hairs soak up water and minerals from the soil.
Interesting facts about the sunflower
- The big flower head is really hundreds of tiny flowers called florets.
- Young sunflowers turn to follow the sun during the day and face east again at night.
- Once the flower opens, most heads stop moving and stay facing east.
- Its seeds grow in spirals, a pattern found all over nature.
- Each striped seed is a fruit with a single seed inside.
Compare: Xylem vs Phloem: How Plants Move Water and Food · Monocot vs Dicot: Seeds, Leaves, Roots and Flowers in 3D · Plant vs Fungus: Why a Mushroom Is Not a Plant
More plants in 3D
Sunflower anatomy questions
Do sunflowers follow the sun?
Young sunflowers do. They turn from east to west during the day and swing back at night. Most mature flower heads stay facing east.
Is a sunflower one flower?
No. The head is made of hundreds of tiny flowers, called florets, packed together.
How tall do sunflowers grow?
Most garden sunflowers grow about 1.5 to 3 m tall, and some varieties grow much taller.
Where do sunflowers come from?
They are native to North America.
The 3D Plant Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.