This bush is common in the wilds of California. It looks like a daisy and you can say it is sunflower like (without sunflower like seeds). Today while wandering I saw a plant that is similar to the first (Which is Encelia californica otherwise known as brittle bush).
Most true sunflowers concentrate on one flower and produce large seeds that people like to eat. This one is a flower producing plant and probably will not produce great sunflower seeds.
Here is another member of the sunflower family. It has a lot of leaves because it produces roots that are edible.
This is one of the food plants produced first in North America by the American Indians. Corn could be harvested and dried for storage, while the "Jerusalem" (girasole is Italian for sunflower and the word was corrupted to Jerusalem) artichoke can be left in the ground for later consumption, sort of like a natural storage bin.
Comments (14)
that's interesting. so that's jerusalem artichoke. hmm.
Beautiful flowers.
@promisesunshine - It is not easy to identify Jerusalem artichokes. We used to grow them and they produced rootlike potatoes that are sweet to eat.
@RestlessButterfly - They are like Asians they all look almost alike but have different characteristics.frank
I have grown thema couple of times. I'd like to grow them again but I have't seen th eseeds at my local farm market, where I typically buy seeds at.
I can't get over the beauty of flowers..Strange these artichoke look like ginger to me...I guess this is the heart of the artichoke.
California has some beautiful wildflowers. Your comments, along with the pictures, are very interesting and educational.
@Aloysius_son - typically I grew them from the root tubers. Once you start them do not let it get too thick with tubers. Plant them near you cabin and in winter when you are hungry, dig them up.
That last plant looks like ginger root.
Another reason why sunflowers (or similar flowers) are my favorite!
It's interesting to know that we can get food from the flowers. :)
Thanks for your great feedback on my blog. I really appreciate it.
Nice collection.
i like jerusalem artichoke. i miss that root vegetable. great as soups or mashed. we don't have it here in indonesia.