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Plant differences

Tue, 07/21/2009 - 15:43 — janher

I've managed to outwit my wild rabbits and now have three thriving plants from the seeds shipped to me. However, I noticed today that the while the general growth and leaves are the same on all three, one has a different flower. The center is green to greenish yellow. The other plant's flowers are a dark blackish brown/tan. Is there any significance to this difference in color? Should I collect data from this plant?

Thanks,
Janette

‹ No flowers yet plants all but dead ›
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 06:03 — Gretchen Lebuhn

Variation in color

I'd guess this is just natural genetic variation in this variety. Go ahead and use it. If you want to do your own experiment you could see if the visitation rate to each type of flower differs!

Sun, 08/09/2009 - 15:39 — janher

bees and goldfinches

I did an informal "experiment". Bees seem to like the greenish centered flowers just as much as the dark. However, goldfinches much prefer the seeds from the dark centered variety. We have had as many as 5 goldfinch at a time feeding on the dark centered sunflower heads. I doubt there will be any of those seeds left for next year. The goldfinch do eat the seeds of the green centered sunflower, but they just don't seem to be as appealing.

Wed, 08/12/2009 - 19:26 — beakerlj

thanks for sharing

Interesting input - thanks for sharing that.