Living BeingsCompare species
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Common Sunflower | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Rough, hairy stems carry broad, toothed leaves. Yellow ray florets surround a darker central disk in familiar forms, although cultivated varieties differ in color and size. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Open, sunny ground supports growth. Roadsides, fields and disturbed areas are common settings for wild or naturalized plants. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | Green leaves capture light and fix carbon through photosynthesis; roots absorb water and mineral nutrients. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Reproduction and life cycle | A seed germinates, the plant grows and flowers, and new seeds mature within one growing season. It does not persist through winter as the same adult plant in cold climates. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Native to North America and widely introduced through cultivation. A sunflower in a garden is not evidence of a native population. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Flower heads attract insects, while mature seed heads provide food for birds and squirrels. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | A taproot and sturdy stem support growth in exposed places. Cultivation has selected forms with very different head sizes and branching patterns. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Pentapetalae.