Sunflower
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Sunflower |
| Scientific name | Helianthus annuus |
| Taxonomic group | Asteraceae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Economic botany | Food plants; Industrial products |
| Food plants | Vegetables; Oils |
| Keywords | Leguminosae |
Sunflower. One of the few major food plants native to North America, sunflowers appear to have been cultivated for about 3,000 years. The highly unsaturated oil is used in cooking and margarine, and can even be mixed with diesel fuel. Sunflower seeds are also used as a snack food. The flowers are bee pollinated.
