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Red sunflower

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:58:39 +0100

Red sunflower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A red sunflower, shortly after blooming

The red sunflower is an unusually colored sunflower created by breeding together different varieties of sunflowers. The sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae with a large flower head (also known as an inflorescence).

Like standard sunflowers, the florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, and they mature into what are traditionally called "sunflower seeds." These are actually the fruit (an achene) of the plant, and the inedible husk is the wall of the fruit, while the true seed lies within the kernel.

Red sunflowers in the bud stage exhibit heliotropism. At sunrise, the faces of most sunflowers turn toward the east. Over the course of the day, they move to track the sun from east to west, while at night they return to an eastward orientation. This motion is performed by motor cells in the pulvinus, a flexible segment of the stem just below the bud. As the bud stage ends, the stem stiffens and the blooming stage is reached. Heliotropism is not a trait of sunflowers once they reach the blooming stage.

The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres (9 ft 10 in) tall. Multiple cultivars of red sunflowers exist; varieties include "Prado Red"^[1] and "Red Sun"^[2].

References

Perennila sunflower

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:56:10 +0100

Perennial sunflower

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This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009)

Perennial sunflower is a new crop being developed by crossing wild perennial and domestic annual sunflower species.

Annual sunflower is a major oilseed crop. Genes from wild perennial relatives may increase root depth and mass and extend the growing season. These upgrades means future varieties with higher yields and better soil conservation.

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Background

Sunflower seed: current production and uses

Globally, sunflowers are the fourth most important oil crop. Most of the sunflower seed crop is crushed for oil, and most of the oil is consumed by humans. A major byproduct of crushing is protein-rich cake, an excellent feed for livestock.

A tiny proportion of the global sunflower crop is directly eaten as “nuts” or kernels.

Sunflower seed in the context of global oilseed production (FAO data)

Global uses of sunflower seed (from FAO data)

Wild perennial relatives of sunflower

There are 82 species of sunflowers (genus Helianthus), all native to North America. Of these, 38 are perennials. Sunflower breeders have crossed many of these species with the crop sunflower because they are a source of useful genes.

All wild sunflower species	Perennial sunflower species	The domestic sunflower
Wild species supply genes for conventional breeding programs	Wild perennials are a source of genes for perennial grain breeding	Annual crop sunflower is a source of genes for perennial grain breeding
drought resistance new types of oils disease resistance	deep, persistent roots rhizomes tubers cold tolerance spring emergence	Large seeds Shatter resistance Fast germination and seedling growth High seed yields

Helianthus tuberosus rhizomes and tubers

Helianthus maximilianii rhizomes

Perennial sunflowers survive the winter by storing food in underground freezing-tolerant stems called rhizomes. Rhizomes enable a plant to spread into new territory. Tubers are storage organs and are modified rhizomes.

Jerusalem Artichoke: the other perennial sunflower

Wild Helianthus tuberosus tubers

Native Americans domesticated the wild perennial sunflower Helianthus tuberosus by selecting individuals with larger tubers. This crop plant (now called by the misleading name Jerusalem artichoke) was grown for its tubers and not for its seed. The perennial sunflowers being developed as an oilseed crop by modern plant breeders may have tubers, but they will probably not be harvested. Digging tubers is probably ecologically sustainable on a small scale. On a large scale, annually disturbing the soil makes it vulnerable to soil erosion. Avoiding annual tillage is one of the main motivations for developing perennial grain crops.

Breeding perennial sunflower

Combining genes from wild and crop species

Many sunflower species can be artificially hybridized but one group of wild perennial species cross, the hexaploids (six copies of all chromosomes instead of the usual two copies) are especially easy to cross. Scientists are using this group to make “bridging crosses” that will bring together the genes from the crop sunflower and several other perennial species.

Researchers at The Land Institute have made many tetraploid hybrids like the ones shown here. More than 50 are known to be perennial and winter-hardy. These plants are remarkably diverse in appearance, including variation for head size, color, leaf shape, height. Plant breeders at The University of Minnesota have made similar tetraploid hybrids ^[1]

Examples of interspecific hybridization within the genus Helianthus.

References

^ | Brent Hulke:Introgressing genes for perennial habit into sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) via wide crosses.

Sunflower oil

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:54:00 +0100

Sunflower oil

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Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is the non-volatile oil expressed from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds. Sunflower oil is commonly used in food as a frying oil, and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient.

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Composition

Sunflower oil contains predominantly linoleic acid in triglyceride form. The British Pharmacopoeia lists the following profile:^[1]

Palmitic acid : 4 - 9%,
Stearic acid : 1 - 7%,
Oleic acid : 14 - 40%,
Linoleic acid : 48 - 74%.

There are several types of sunflower oils produced, such as high linoleic, high oleic and mid oleic. High linoleic sunflower oil typically has at least 69% linoleic acid. High oleic sunflower oil has at least 82% oleic acid. Variation in unsaturated fatty acids profile is strongly influenced by both genetics and climate. In the last decade high stearic sunflower lines have been developed in Spain to avoid the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils in food industry.

Sunflower oil also contains lecithin, tocopherols, carotenoids and waxes. Sunflower oil's properties are typical of a vegetable triglyceride oil. Sunflower oil is produced from oil type sunflower seeds. Sunflower oil is light in taste and appearance and has a high Vitamin E content. It is a combination of mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with low saturated fat levels.

Physical properties

Sunflower oil is liquid at room temperature. The refined oil is clear and slightly amber-colored with a slightly fatty odor.

Smoke point (refined)	232 °C	450 °F^[2]
Smoke point (unrefined)	227 °C	440 °F^[3]
Density (25 ºC)	917 kg/m³^{[citation needed]}
Refractive index (25 ºC)	≈1.473^{[citation needed]}

Uses

As a frying oil, sunflower oil behaves as a typical vegetable triglyceride. In cosmetics, it has smoothing properties and is considered noncomedogenic. Only the high-oleic variety possesses shelf life sufficient for commercial cosmetic formulation. Sunflower oil's INCI name is Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil.

Nutrition

Sunflower oil (high oleic (70% and over))
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy 880 kcal 3700 kJ

Carbohydrates	0 g
Fat	100 g
- saturated 9.748 g
- monounsaturated 83.594 g
- polyunsaturated 3.798 g
Protein	0 g
Vitamin E 41.08 mg	274%
Vitamin K 5.4 μg	5%

Percentages are relative to US
recommendations for adults.

Health benefits

There are a variety of health benefits associated with the consumption of sunflower oil.

Diet and cardiovascular benefits

Sunflower oil is high in the essential vitamin E and low in saturated fat. The two most common types of sunflower oil are linoleic and high oleic. Linoleic sunflower oil is a common cooking oil that has high levels of the essential fatty acids called polyunsaturated fat. It is also known for having a clean taste and low levels of trans fat. High oleic sunflower oils are classified as having monounsaturated levels of 80% and above. Newer versions of sunflower oil have been developed as a hybrid containing linoleic acid. They have monounsaturated levels lower than other oleic sunflower oils. The hybrid oil also has lower saturated fat levels than linoleic sunflower oil.^[4] Sunflower oil of any kind has been shown to have cardiovascular benefits as well. Diets combined with a low fat content and high levels of oleic acid have been suggested to lower cholesterol which, in turn, results in a smaller risk of heart disease.^[5] Sunflower oils fit this criteria. Studies of adults suggested that a balanced diet in which small quantities of saturated fats are replaced with sunflower oil has detectable cholesterol-reducing benefits. Research suggests that lower cholesterol levels can be caused by balances of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Sunflower oil may help with this balance.^[6]

Restaurant and food industry uses

Restaurants and food manufacturers are becoming aware of the health benefits of sunflower oil. The oil can be used in conditions with extremely high cooking temperatures. It may also help food stay fresher and healthier for longer periods of time ^[5]. Food manufacturers are starting to use sunflower oil in an effort to lower the levels of trans fat in mass produced foods. A number of common snack foods currently contain sunflower oil, including NewYork Fries French fries,Majans BHUJA Mix healthy snacks, the Sri Lankan style Bombay Mix -Rani Mix, Kettle Chips, Sun Chips, Sunflower Chips, Ruffles, Walkers and Lay's potato chips; the recipe of the latter was modified in late 2006 in order to include the oil.^[7]

Sunflower oil as skin protection

Sunflower oil, like other oils, can retain moisture in the skin. It may also provide a protective barrier that resists infection in pre-term infants. Studies using sunflower oil have been conducted involving low birth weight pre-term infants that are often susceptible to infection due to their underdeveloped skin. The study determined that infants receiving a daily skin treatment of sunflower oil were 41% less likely to develop infections in hospital.^[8]

Negative health effects

A high consumption of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are found in most types of vegetable oil including sunflower oil, may increase the likelihood that postmenopausal women will develop breast cancer.^[9] Similar effect was observed on prostate cancer.^[10] Other analysis suggested an inverse association between total polyunsaturated fatty acids and breast cancer risk.^[11]

References

^ British Pharmacopoeia Commission. "Ph Eur monograph 1371". British Pharmacopoeia 2005. Norwich, England: The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-322682-9.
^ http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/50/Smoke-Points-of-Various-Fats
^ http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/50/Smoke-Points-of-Various-Fats
^ National Sunflower Association : Health and Nutrition
^ ^a ^b New Healthful Sunflower Oil Resists Breakdown / June 11, 1998 / News from the USDA Agricultural Research Service
^ http://www.health.am/cholesterol/more/balance_of_good_fats_may_help_lower_cholesterol/
^ Oil changes allows Frito-Lay to slash saturated fat
^ Sunflower Oil May Help Reduce Nosocomial Infections in Preterm Infants
^ Emily Sonestedt, Ulrika Ericson, Bo Gullberg, Kerstin Skog, Håkan Olsson, Elisabet Wirfält (2008). "Do both heterocyclic amines and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids contribute to the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women of the Malmö diet and cancer cohort?". The International Journal of Cancer (UICC International Union Against Cancer) 123 (7): 1637-1643. doi:10.1002/ijc.23394. PMID 10970215. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120780752/abstract. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
^ Yong Q. Chen, at al (2007). "Modulation of prostate cancer genetic risk by omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids". The Journal of Clinical Investigation 117 (7). doi:10.1172/JCI31494. PMID 1890998. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1890998. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
^ Valeria Pala, Vittorio Krogh, Paola Muti, Véronique Chajès, Elio Riboli, Andrea Micheli, Mitra Saadatian, Sabina Sieri, Franco Berrino (2001). "Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acids and Subsequent Breast Cancer: a Prospective Italian Study". JNCL 93. PMID 11459870. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/93/14/1088. Retrieved 2008-11-30.

Sunflower seed

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:50:06 +0100

Sunflower seed

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Left: dehulled kernel. Right: Whole seed with hull

Botanically speaking, a sunflower seed is an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel.

For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed into sunflower oil. These seeds are considered the seed of choice for bird feeders.^[1]

If the husks are striped, the seeds are called striped sunflower seeds or "stripers." Due to their lower oil content, the crops are called non-oilseed sunflower crops. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.

There is a sunflower seed that is whitish, which has no current commercial use. Most commonly, sunflower seeds are black with white stripes or plain black.

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Cultivation

Top Sunflower Seed Producers - 2005
*Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)*^[2]
Rank	Country	10⁶ M/T	Country area (km²)
1	Russia	6.3	&0000000017098242.00000017,098,242
2	Ukraine	4.7	&0000000000603700.000000603,700
3	Argentina	3.7	&0000000002780400.0000002,780,400
4	China	1.9	&0000000009598086.0000009,598,086
5	India	1.9	&0000000003166414.0000003,166,414
6	United States	1.8	&0000000009629091.0000009,629,091
7	Turkey	1.0	&0000000000783562.000000783,562
8	Bulgaria	0.9	&0000000000110912.000000110,912
9	South Africa	0.7	&0000000001221037.0000001,221,037
10	Serbia	0.5	&0000000000077474.00000077,474
	World Total	31.1

[show] v • d • e Lists of countries by agricultural output rankings

Cereals	Barley · Buckwheat · Maize · Millet · Oats · Rice · Rye · Sorghum · Triticale · Wheat

Fruit	Apples · Bananas · Citrus (Oranges) · Tomatos

Other	Cacao · Coffee · Fish · Milk · Potato · Soybean · Sugar beet · Sugar cane · Sunflower · Tea · Tobacco · Wine

Related	Irrigation · Land use

Lists of countries · Lists by country · List of international rankings

Seeds

Sunflower seed kernels, dried
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy 570 kcal 2390 kJ

Carbohydrates	18.76 g
- Sugars 2.62 g
- Dietary fiber 10.5 g
Fat	49.57 g
- saturated 5.20 g
- monounsaturated 9.46 g
- polyunsaturated 32.74 g
Protein	22.78 g
Thiamine (Vit. B1) 2.29 mg	176%
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.25 mg	17%
Niacin (Vit. B3) 4.5 mg	30%
Pantothenic acid (B5) 6.75 mg	135%
Vitamin B6 0.77 mg	59%
Folate (Vit. B9) 227 μg	57%
Vitamin C 1.4 mg	2%
Vitamin E 34.50 mg	230%
Calcium 116 mg	12%
Iron 6.77 mg	54%
Magnesium 354 mg	96%
Manganese 2.02 mg	101%
Phosphorus 705 mg	101%
Potassium 689 mg	15%
Sodium 3 mg	0%
Zinc 5.06 mg	51%

Percentages are relative to US
recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient database

Sunflower seeds are more commonly eaten as a healthy snack than as part of a meal. They can also be used as garnishes or ingredients in various recipes. The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds or dehulled kernels. The seeds can also be sprouted and eaten in salads.

When in-shell seeds are processed, they are first dried. Afterwards, they may also be roasted or dusted with salt or flour for preservation of flavor. Dehulling is commonly performed by cracking the hull with one's teeth and spitting it out while keeping the kernel in the mouth and eating it.

In-shell sunflower seeds are particularly popular in Mediterranean countries, like Israel and Turkey, where they are called garinim and ayçekirdeği respectively. In Turkey and Israel, they can be bought freshly roasted in shops and markets and are a common stadium food. They are popular in Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, China, and the United States.

Dehulled kernels have been mechanically processed to remove the hull. These kernels may be sold raw or roasted. These dehulled kernels are sometimes added to bread and other baked goods for their flavor. There is also sunflower butter, similar to peanut butter, but utilizing sunflower seeds instead of peanuts. Apart from human consumption, sunflower seeds are also sold as food for pets and wild birds in boxes and small bags.

Sunflower Seed

Pressed oil

Main article: Sunflower oil

Over the past decades sunflower oil has become popular worldwide. The oil may be used as is, or may be processed into polyunsaturated margarines. The oil is typically extracted by applying great pressure to the sunflower seeds and collecting the oil. The protein-rich cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed.

The original sunflower oil (linoleic sunflower oil) is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 68% linoleic acid) and low in saturated fats, such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. However, various hybrids have been developed to alter the fatty acid profile of the crop for various purposes.^[3]

In the future, sunflower oil could become a renewable bio-source for hydrogen. A team for the University of Leeds has developed a workable method for the extraction of hydrogen from sunflower oil, through a chain of chemical reactions with nickel-based and carbon-based catalysts.^[4] However, while the plant's photosynthesis essentially captures the hydrogen, the energy necessary to liberate hydrogen gas from the hydrocarbons from sunflower oil is considerably greater than the energy of the liberated gas. Therefore, although sunflower oil could certainly be used for this purpose, it is not, by any means, a 'free' or even 'eco-friendly' source of energy.

Health benefits

In addition to linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), sunflower seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin A, B Vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium and zinc.^[5] Additionally, they are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.^[6] Sunflower seeds also contain one gram or less of sugar per serving.[1]

References

External links

Sunflower

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:46:46 +0100

Sunflower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation).

Sunflower

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Helianthoideae
Tribe:	Heliantheae
Genus:	Helianthus
Species:	H. annuus

Binomial name

Helianthus annuus
L.

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are annual plants native to the Americas, that possess a large inflorescence (flowering head). Sunflower stems can grow as high as 3 metres (9.8 ft), and the flower head can reach 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in diameter with large edible seeds. The term "sunflower" is also used to refer to all plants of the genus Helianthus, many of which are perennial plants.

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Description

Whole seed (right) and kernel with hull removed (left)

Head displaying florets in spirals of 34 and 55 around the outside

What is usually called the flower is actually a head (formally composite flower) of numerous florets (small flowers) crowded together. The outer florets are the sterile ray florets and can be yellow, maroon, orange, or other colors. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into what are traditionally called "sunflower seeds," but are actually the fruit (an achene) of the plant. The inedible husk is the wall of the fruit and the true seed lies within the kernel.

The florets within the sunflower's cluster are arranged in a spiral pattern. Typically each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5°, producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals where the number of left spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers. Typically, there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other; on a very large sunflower there could be 89 in one direction and 144 in the other.^[1]^[2]^[3] This pattern produces the most efficient packing of seeds within the flower head.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Heliotropism

Sunflowers in the bud stage exhibit heliotropism. At sunrise, the faces of most sunflowers are turned towards the east. Over the course of the day, they follow the sun from east to west, while at night they return to an eastward orientation. This motion is performed by motor cells in the pulvinus, a flexible segment of the stem just below the bud. As the bud stage ends, the stem stiffens and the blooming stage is reached.

Sunflowers in their blooming stage lose their heliotropic capacity. The stem becomes "frozen", typically in an eastward orientation.^{[citation needed]} The stem and leaves lose their green color.

The wild sunflower typically does not turn toward the sun; its flowering heads may face many directions when mature. However, the leaves typically exhibit some heliotropism.

History

Growing near Fargo, North Dakota.

Heads sold as snacks in China.

The sunflower is native to the Americas. The evidence thus far is that it was first domesticated in Mexico, by at least 2600 BC.^[7] It may have been domesticated a second time in the middle Mississippi Valley, or been introduced there from Mexico at an early date, as maize was. The earliest known examples of a fully domesticated sunflower north of Mexico have been found in Tennessee and date to around 2300 BC. Many indigenous American peoples used the sunflower as the symbol of their solar deity, including the Aztecs and the Otomi of Mexico and the Incas in South America. Francisco Pizarro was the first European to encounter the sunflower in Tahuantinsuyo, Peru. Gold images of the flower, as well as seeds, were taken back to Spain early in the 16th century. Some researchers argue that the Spaniards tried to suppress cultivation of the sunflower because of its association with solar religion and warfare.^[8]

During the 18th century, the use of sunflower oil became very popular in Europe, particularly with members of the Russian Orthodox Church because sunflower oil was one of the few oils that was not prohibited during Lent.

Cultivation and uses

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (July 2009)

To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5 ft) apart and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep. Sunflower "whole seed" (fruit) are sold as a snack food, after roasting in ovens, with or without salt added. Sunflowers can be processed into a peanut butter alternative, Sunbutter. In Germany, it is mixed together with rye flour to make Sonnenblumenkernbrot (literally: sunflower whole seed bread), which is quite popular in German-speaking Europe. It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads.

Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce margarine and biodiesel, as it is cheaper than olive oil. A range of sunflower varieties exist with differing fatty acid compositions; some 'high oleic' types contain a higher level of healthy monounsaturated fats in their oil than even olive oil.

Detail of disk florets.

The cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed. Some recently developed cultivars have drooping heads. These cultivars are less attractive to gardeners growing the flowers as ornamental plants, but appeal to farmers, because they reduce bird damage and losses from some plant diseases. Sunflowers also produce latex and are the subject of experiments to improve their suitability as an alternative crop for producing hypoallergenic rubber.

Traditionally, several Native American groups planted sunflowers on the north edges of their gardens as a "fourth sister" to the better known three sisters combination of corn, beans, and squash.^[9] Annual species are often planted for their allelopathic properties.^{[citation needed]}

However, for commercial farmers growing commodity crops, the sunflower, like any other unwanted plant, is often considered a weed. Especially in the midwestern USA, wild (perennial) species are often found in corn and soybean fields and can have a negative impact on yields.

Sunflowers may also be used to extract toxic ingredients from soil, such as lead, arsenic and uranium. They were used to remove uranium, cesium-137, and strontium-90 from soil after the Chernobyl disaster (see phytoremediation).

Mathematical model of floret arrangement

Illustration of Vogel's model for n=1..500 .

A model for the pattern of florets in the head of a sunflower was proposed by H Vogel in 1979.^[10] This is expressed in polar coordinates

where θ is the angle, r is the radius or distance from the center, and n is the index number of the floret and c is a constant scaling factor. It is a form of Fermat's spiral. The angle 137.5° is related to the golden ratio and gives a close packing of florets. This model has been used to produce computer graphics representations of sunflowers.^[11]

Size

Sunflowers most commonly grow to heights between 2.5 and 3.5 m (8-12 ft). Scientific literature reports from 1567, that a 12-m (40 ft), traditional, single-head, sunflower plant was grown in Padua. The same seed lot grew almost 8 m (26 ft) at other times and places (e.g. Madrid). Much more recent feats (past score years) of over 8 m have been achieved in both Netherlands and Ontario, Canada.

Cultural symbol

The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of Kitakyushu, Japan.
The sunflower is often used as a symbol of green ideology, much as the red rose is a symbol of socialism or social democracy. The sunflower is also the symbol of the Vegan Society. During the late nineteenth century, the flower was used as the symbol of the Aesthetic Movement.
Subject of Van Gogh's most famous still life, Sunflowers (series of paintings)
The sunflower is the national flower of Russia.

Varieties

The following are varieties of sunflowers (in alphabetical order):

American Giant Hybrid
Arikara
Autumn Beauty
Aztec Sun
Black Oil
Dwarf Sunspot
Evening Sun
Giant Primrose
Indian Blanket Hybrid
Irish Eyes

Italian White
Kong Hybrid
Large Grey Stripe
Lemon Queen
Mammoth Sunflower
Mongolian Giant
Orange Sun
Peach Passion
Red Sun
Ring of Fire
Rostov

Skyscraper
Soraya
Strawberry Blonde
Sunny Hybrid
Taiyo
Tarahumara
Teddy Bear
Titan
Valentine
Velvet Queen

Other species

The Maximillian sunflower (Helianthus maximillianii) is one of 38 species of perennial sunflower native to North America. The Land Institute and other breeding programs are currently exploring the potential for these as a perennial seed crop
The Sunchoke[1] (Jerusalem artichoke or Helianthus tuberosa) is related to the sunflower, another example of perennial sunflower.
The Mexican sunflower is Tithonia rotundifolia. It is only very distantly related to North American sunflowers.
False sunflower refers to plants of the genus Heliopsis.

Gallery

Single seed with hull	Sunflowers in Wilkesboro, North Carolina	Sunflower After the rain	Sunflowers in Manila, Philippines
Bumble bee sampling Sunflower nectar	A sunflower farm near Mysore, India.	Lone sunflower about 2 m (6 ft, 6') tall	Sunflower seedlings, just three days after germination
Large Russian Sunflower	Fruiting head	Sunflower seeds.	Red sunflowers.
Small Sunflower	Sunflower Macro	Extreme close-up of sunflower head in Istanbul, Turkey	Sunflower against a blue sky
Sunflower in Japan.	Sunflower infected with Verticillium dahliae	Sunflowers in Orillia, Ontario

Notes

^ John A. Adam, Mathematics in Nature
^ R. Knott, Interactive demos
^ R. Knott, Fibonacci in plants
^ http://books.google.com/books?id=f_VMeAToefwC&pg=PA154&lpg=PA154&dq=fibonacci+packing+efficiency&source=bl&ots=sWDWr07bFq&sig=JmfHmea2OIFuDSU0R46OXbm-kDM&hl=en&ei=6x4WSv2IOov8swPhtOHZCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
^ http://books.google.com/books?id=YJ6uEstnjLsC&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=fibonacci+packing+efficiency&source=bl&ots=yd-x1QO3YA&sig=xdU6n_dYMjyfXQCcsxE9ODNwXBc&hl=en&ei=6x4WSv2IOov8swPhtOHZCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
^ http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/lab/5833/cycas.html
^ University of Cincinnati (2008, April 29). Ancient Sunflower Fuels Debate About Agriculture In The Americas. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 29, 2008, from /releases/2008/04/080429075321.htm
^ Sunflower Debate Ends in Mexico, Researchers Say Newswise, Retrieved on June 26, 2008.
^ Kuepper & Dodson, 2001 Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources
^ Vogel, H (1979), "A better way to construct the sunflower head", Mathematical Biosciences 44 (44): 179–189, doi:10.1016/0025-5564(79)90080-4
^ Prusinkiewicz, Przemyslaw; Lindenmayer, Aristid (1990). The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants. Springer-Verlag. pp. 101–107. ISBN 978-0387972978. http://algorithmicbotany.org/papers/#webdocs.

References

Pope, Kevin; Pohl, Mary E. D.; Jones, John G.; Lentz, 3 David L.; von Nagy, Christopher; Vega, Francisco J.; Quitmyer Irvy R.; "Origin and Environmental Setting of Ancient Agriculture in the Lowlands of Mesoamerica," Science, 18 May 2001:Vol. 292. no. 5520, pp. 1370 - 1373.
Shosteck, Robt. 1974. Flowers and Plants. An International Lexicon with Biographical Notes. Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co. 329 pp.
Wood, Marcia. June 2002. "Sunflower Rubber?" Agricultural Research. USDA. [2]

index

Red sunflower

Red sunflower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

References

Perennila sunflower

Perennial sunflower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

Background

Sunflower seed: current production and uses

Wild perennial relatives of sunflower

Jerusalem Artichoke: the other perennial sunflower

Breeding perennial sunflower

Combining genes from wild and crop species

References

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

Composition

Physical properties

Uses

Nutrition

Health benefits

Diet and cardiovascular benefits

Restaurant and food industry uses

Sunflower oil as skin protection

Negative health effects

See also

References

Sunflower seed

Sunflower seed

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

Cultivation

Seeds

Pressed oil

Health benefits

References

See also

External links

Sunflower

Sunflower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

Description

Heliotropism

History

Cultivation and uses

Mathematical model of floret arrangement

Size

Cultural symbol

Varieties

Other species

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

External links