These are endemic Helianthus anomalus (sand sunflower) in San Juan County, UT, southeast of Halls Crossing in shifting sand dunes. These plants have multiple branches, shiny light green leaves ...

However, fixed in one position, mature sunflowers face east as their stems stiffen. Flowers of the wild sunflowers seen on ...

One species in particular - the sunflower star - was nearly wiped out ... ever that sea stars grown in a lab were put back ...