helianthus

helianthus [ˌhiːlɪˈænθəs]

n pl -thuses

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any plant of the genus Helianthus, such as the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke, typically having large yellow daisy-like flowers with yellow, brown, or purple centres: family Asteraceae (composites)

[New Latin, from Greek hēlios sun + anthos flower]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

helianthus - any plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays sunflower flower - a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms genus Helianthus - genus of tall erect or branched American annual or perennial herbs with showy flowers: sunflowers Helianthus angustifolius, swamp sunflower - sunflower of eastern North America having narrow leaves and found in bogs common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, mirasol - annual sunflower grown for silage and for its seeds which are a source of oil; common throughout United States and much of North America giant sunflower, Helianthus giganteus, tall sunflower, Indian potato - very tall American perennial of central and the eastern United States to Canada having edible tuberous roots Helianthus laetiflorus, showy sunflower - tall rough-leaved perennial with a few large flower heads; central United States Helianthus maximilianii, Maximilian's sunflower - tall perennial of central United States to Canada having golden-yellow flowers Helianthus petiolaris, prairie sunflower - similar to the common sunflower with slender usually branching stems common in central United States Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichoke sunflower, girasol, Jerusalem artichoke - tall perennial with hairy stems and leaves; widely cultivated for its large irregular edible tubers