March 22, 2024
Have you ever noticed the wonderful flower name as the sunflower?
Sunflower “Just as sunflowers follow the sun”
Different cultures believe that sunflowers represent values such as positivity and strength to admiration and loyalty
In Chinese culture, sunflowers are said to mean good luck and lasting happiness which is why they are often given at graduations and at the start of a new business.
why does a sunflower follow the sun?
the scientists have explained through the word “Heliotropism”
Sunflowers do demonstrate a fascinating phenomenon called “heliotropism” where the flowers of the sunflower plant point at the sun, daily rotating from east to west each day as the sun crosses the sky. And the flowers repeat the same journey again the next day, giving the sense of admiration and loyalty to the sun.
Heliotropism is caused by hormones called “auxins” found at the back of the flower, which is sensitive to sunlight and do everything they can to seek the shade, thus pointing the flower at the sun. Heliotropism begins to fade as the sunflower matures.
Being a beautiful flower with great meaning, it also attracts many pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. And sunflower seeds are a favorite food for wildlife such as mice, birds, and squirrels.
To help our pollinators and wildlife, plant more sunflowers and other flowers around your gardens and fields and avoid using household and farm pesticides that kill insects. Every flower that you plant can help. On a global level, we need to set more land aside for wildlife reserves, where animals and their habitats can have the protection they need, decrease threats to biodiversity while helping to protect animal habitats! We all must pull together to ensure we have a healthy and sustainable planet, well into the future.
If you like our stories connected beautiful things in your life to the beauty of the natural world, please click on “Like” on the Phakhaolao Facebook PageMore stories are coming!!
source:
https://nature.berkeley.edu/news/2016/08/sunflowers-move-clock
https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/sunflowers-always-face-follow-sun.html
https://www.interflora.co.uk/content/sunflowers/
