BETA
Chapter 1
The daily dance of heliotropism
Chapter 2
The internal clock and growth hormones
Chapter 3
Why follow the sun
Chapter 4
The global journey of the sunflower
YOUR GOAL
Master of How sunflowers follow the sun
Ch 3 · Why follow the sun
artiteacher Swipe to chase drifting spores to discover how sunflowers track the sun.
artiteacher Why follow the sun
Chase the sun till the day is done—chase that light!—now we're facing east for the dawn—shining bright!
artiteacher Stopping movement at maturity protects the developing seeds from extreme afternoon heat.
Fun Fact
Bee warm zone: Bees prefer warm flowers, and east-facing sunflowers attract up to five times more pollinators than west-facing ones.
Glossary
photosynthesis (noun)
The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. Sunflowers track solar rays to maximize this process, which increases their biomass and accelerates growth.
The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. Sunflowers track solar rays to maximize this process, which increases their biomass and accelerates growth.
Quiz
Which weather-related hazard is prevented when the morning sun dries the sunflower?
Quiz
What happens to the temperature of a sunflower that is artificially turned west in the morning?