Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SUN'FLOW-ER, n. [sun and flower.]

A plant of the genus Helianthus; so called from the form and color of its flower, or from its habit of turning to the sun. The bastard sunflower is of the genus Helenium; the dwarf sunflower is of the genus Rudheckia, and another of the genus Tetragonotheca; the little sunflower is of the genus Cistus. – Fam. of Plants.