Clinging Sunflower

This small flower grows up to 4 inches (10 cm) tall. Its yellow stem is thin, and the small, lime green leaves are light silver on the underside and are very narrow and elongated with rounded edges. Many leaves grow along the entire length of the stem.

Two giant flowers sit at the end of the stem. The flowers are 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide, with solid dark brown petals decorated with brilliant blue lines and a indigo central disk. The flower head is largely flat with many tightly layered round-tipped petals. They fall easily.

It has a strong scent that smells like bleach, and it has lots of pollen; it can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind, but is also visited by a small species of bird.