SunflowerSunflower

Made by Made by Daniela BuraDaniela Bura

Gabriela LobontGabriela Lobont

Loredana MarcLoredana Marc

Class XI AClass XI A

SunflowerSunflower ( (Helianthus annuusHelianthus annuus) is an ) is an annual plant native to the native to the Americas that that possess a large possess a large inflorescence (flowering head). (flowering head). The sunflower got its name from its huge fiery The sunflower got its name from its huge fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined consist of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a receptacle base.together by a receptacle base.

Sunflower seeds were taken to Europe in the Sunflower seeds were taken to Europe in the 16th century where, along with 16th century where, along with sunflower oil, , they became a widespread cooking ingredient. they became a widespread cooking ingredient.

With sunflower, what is usually called the With sunflower, what is usually called the flower is actually a is actually a flower head (also known as a (also known as a composite flowercomposite flower) of numerous florets, (small ) of numerous florets, (small flowers) crowded together. The outer petal-flowers) crowded together. The outer petal-bearing florets are the sterile bearing florets are the sterile ray floretsray florets and and can be yellow, red, orange, or other colors. The can be yellow, red, orange, or other colors. The florets inside the circular head are called florets inside the circular head are called disc disc floretsflorets, which mature into , which mature into seeds. Sunflowers . Sunflowers most commonly grow to heights between 1.5 most commonly grow to heights between 1.5 and 3.5 m (5–12 ft). Scientific literature reports and 3.5 m (5–12 ft). Scientific literature reports that a 12 m (40 ft), traditional, single-head, that a 12 m (40 ft), traditional, single-head, sunflower plant was grown in sunflower plant was grown in Padua in 1567. in 1567. The same seed lot grew almost 8 m (26 ft) at The same seed lot grew almost 8 m (26 ft) at other times and places, including other times and places, including Madrid. . During the 20th century, heights of over 8 m During the 20th century, heights of over 8 m have been achieved in both have been achieved in both Netherlands and and Ontario, , Canada..

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

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

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

The sunflower is the state flower of the US state The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of Kitakyūshū, Japan. Kitakyūshū, Japan.

International Sunflower Guerrilla International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening DayGardening Day is 1 May. It is a day when is 1 May. It is a day when guerrilla gardeners around the world plant guerrilla gardeners around the world plant sunflowers in their neighborhood, typically in sunflowers in their neighborhood, typically in neglected public places such as tree pits, neglected public places such as tree pits, shabby flower beds and bare roadside verges. shabby flower beds and bare roadside verges. It has taken place since 2007 and was It has taken place since 2007 and was conceived by guerrilla gardeners in Brussels, conceived by guerrilla gardeners in Brussels, (who go by the name of The Brussels (who go by the name of The Brussels Farmers). They declared it Journée Farmers). They declared it Journée Internationale de la Guérilla Tournesol. It has Internationale de la Guérilla Tournesol. It has been championed by guerrilla gardeners been championed by guerrilla gardeners around the world, notably by around the world, notably by GuerrillaGardening.org and participation has GuerrillaGardening.org and participation has grown each year since then. In 2010 more grown each year since then. In 2010 more than 5000 people signed up to the event from than 5000 people signed up to the event from North America, Europe and Asia. North America, Europe and Asia.

There are many species in the There are many species in the sunflower genus sunflower genus HelianthusHelianthus, and many , and many species in other genera that may be species in other genera that may be called sunflowers.called sunflowers.