Helianthus annuus

Helianthus annuus, commonly known as the sunflower, is a large annual forb of the genus Helianthus grown as a crop for its edible oil and edible fruits. This sunflower species is also used as bird food, as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), and in some industrial applications. The plant was first domesticated in the Americas. Wild Helianthus annuus is a widely branched annual plant with many flower heads. The domestic sunflower, however, often possesses only a single large inflorescence (flower head) atop an unbranched stem.

Description

The stem of the sunflower can grow up to 3 meters tall with a flower head that can be 30 cm wide. The leaves are broad, coarsely toothed, rough and mostly alternate. What is often called the "flower" of the sunflower is actually a "flower head" or pseudanthium of numerous small individual five-petaled flowers ("florets"). The outer flowers, which resemble petals, are called ray florets. Each "petal" or ray floret is actually a modified sepals. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into seeds.

Cultivation and uses

The sunflower is native to North America but commercialization of the plant took place in Russia. It was only recently that the sunflower plant returned to North America to become a cultivated crop. Sunflowers are cultivated for their seeds which are high in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and several important vitamins and minerals. Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce margarine and biodiesel.

See also

• List of sunflower diseases
• Helianthus
• Sunflower seed
• Sunflower oil

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