Helianthus annuus Sunflower, Common sunflower PFAF Plant Database Physical Characteristics Helianthus annuus is a ANNUAL growing to 3 m (9ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to September, and the seeds ripen from Sep to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies.The plant is not self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. Synonyms Edible Uses: Coffee ; Oil . Seed - raw or cooked[4, 14, 94, 101, 183].

A delicious nut-like flavour, but very fiddly to extract due to the small size of the seed. Commercially there are machines designed to do this. Rich in fats, the seed can be ground into a powder[95], made into sunflower butter or used to make seed yoghurt. When mixed with cereal flours, it makes a nutritious bread[244]. Cultivars with up to 50% oil have been developed in Russia[218]. The oil contains between 44 - 72% linoleic acid[218]. The germinated seed is said to be best for seed yoghurt, it is blended with water and left to ferment[183]. The sprouted seed can be eaten raw[183]. A nutritional analysis of the seed is available[218]. Young flower buds - steamed and served like globe artichokes[2, 85, 101, 117, 183]. A mild and pleasant enough flavour, but rather fiddly[K].

Average yields range from 900 - 1,575 kg/ha of seed, however yields of over 3,375 kg/ha have been reported[269]. A high quality edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[4]. It is low in cholesterol[244], and is said to be equal in quality to olive oil[4]. Used in salads, margarines, or in cooking[2, 34, 46, 57, 94, 95, 183, 269]. The roasted seed is a coffee and drinking chocolate substitute[4, 7, 100, 102]. Another report says the roasted hulls are used[183]. The leaf petioles are boiled and mixed in with other foodstuffs[7]. Composition Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food. Seed (Fresh weight) Notes: Medicinal Uses Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antipsoriatic ; Antirheumatic ; Diuretic ; Expectorant ; Febrifuge ; Stomachic . A tea made from the leaves is astringent, diuretic and expectorant, it is used in the treatment of high fevers[222]. The crushed leaves are used as a poultice on sores, swellings, snakebites and spider bites[222, 257]. The leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[238]. A tea made from the flowers is used in the treatment of malaria and lung ailments[222, 257]. The flowering head and seeds are febrifuge, nutritive and stomachic[7]. The seed is also considered to be diuretic and expectorant[4, 218, 222]. It has been used with success in the treatment of many pulmonary complaints[4]. A decoction of the roots has been used as a warm wash on rheumatic aches and pains[257].

Other Uses Blotting paper ; Dye ; Fibre ; Fuel ; Green manure ; Herbicide ; Kindling ; Microscope ; Oil ; Paper . An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. Some varieties contain up to 45% oil[61]. The oil is also used, often mixed with a drying oil such as linseed (Linum usitatissimum) to make soap, candles, varnishes, paint etc, as well as for lighting. The oil is said to be unrivalled as a lubricant[4, 21, 34, 46, 100, 269]. A blotting paper is made from the seed receptacles[2, 4, 101, 117]. A high quality writing paper is made from the inner stalk[4, 14, 100, 101]. The pith of the stems is one of the lightest substances known, having a specific gravity of 0.028[4].

It has a wide range of applications, being used for purposes such as making life-saving appliances and slides for microscopes[4, 46, 61]. The dried stems make an excellent fuel, the ash is rich in potassium[4]. Both the dried stems and the empty seed receptacles are an excellent kindling[4]. A fibre from the stem is used to make paper[4] and a fine quality cloth[1, 94, 101]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[4, 14, 94, 95]. A purple-black dye is obtained from the seed of certain varieties that were grown by the Hopi Indians of S.W. North America[117, 169]. Sunflowers can be grown as a spring-sown green manure, they produce a good bulk of material[87]. Root secretions from the plant can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[201]. Cultivation details Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Foundation, Massing, Seashore, Specimen.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[1, 34, 117], including poor soils provided they are deep and well-drained[269], but it grows best in a deep rich soil[1, 200]. Plants are intolerant of acid or waterlogged conditions[269]. Especially when grown for its edible seed, the plant prefers a sunny position[1, 34, 117, 269] though it also tolerates light shade[1]. Requires a neutral or preferably calcareous soil[200]. As sunflowers have highly efficient root systems, they can be grown in areas which are too dry for many other crops[269]. Established plants are quite drought-resistant except during flowering[117, 269]. The sunflower tolerates an annual precipitation of 20 - 400cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 - 28°C and a pH in the range of 4.5 - 8.7[269]. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. The sunflower is a very ornamental plant that is widely grown in gardens and is also a major commercial crop for its edible seed and many other uses[1, 4]. It grows well in Britain, but it does not ripen its seed reliably in this country and so is not suitable for commercial cultivation at the present[K]. It is the state flower of Kansas[85]. Three distinct groups of sunflowers are cultivated:- Giant types grow from 1.8 - 4.2 metres tall with flower heads 30 - 50cm in diameter. The seeds are large, white or gray in colour, sometimes with black stripes, and are the best for culinary purposes, though the oil content is lower than for other types. 'Grey Stripe', 'Hopi Black Dye', 'Mammoth Russian' and 'Sundak' are examples of this type[183, 200, 269]. Semi-dwarf types grow from 1.3 - 1.8 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 17 - 23 cm diameter.

The seeds are smaller, black, gray or striped, the oil content is also higher. Examples include 'Pole Star' and 'Jupiter' Dwarf types grow from 0.6 - 1.4 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 14 - 16 cm in diameter[269. The seeds are small but the oil content is the highest. Examples include 'Advance' and 'Sunset'[269]. Some forms are being bred for greater cold tolerance and should be more reliable in Britain[117, 141]. Plants tend to grow better in the south and south-west of England[4]. Most forms require a four month frost-free growing season[117], though some Russian cultivars can mature a crop in 70 days[269]. When plants are grown in cooler latitudes the seed contains higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty oils[117]. The plant has a strong taproot that can penetrate the soil to depth of 3 metres, it also has a large lateral spread of surface roots[269].

Sunflowers grow badly with potatoes but they do well with cucumbers and corn[18, 20, 201]. A very greedy and vigorous plant, it can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[20]. Plants tend to impoverish the soil if they are grown too often in the same place[117]. A good bee plant, providing large quantities of nectar[18, 34, 244]. The flowers attract beneficial insects such as lacewings and parasitic wasps[238]. These prey on various insect pests, especially aphis[238]. Special Features:Attracts birds, Attractive foliage, North American native, Edible, Naturalizing, Wetlands plant, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers. Propagation Seed - sow in mid spring in situ. An earlier start can be made by sowing 2 - 3 seeds per pot in a greenhouse in early spring. Use a fairly rich compost. Thin to the strongest seedling, give them an occasional liquid feed to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient and plant them out in late spring or early summer.

Seed, harvested at 12% moisture content and stored, will retain its viability for several years[269]. Other Names Found In Weed Potential Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking. Conservation Status IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Related Plants Helianthus annuus - Plant Finder Plant Finder Tried and Trouble-free Recommended by 3 Professionals Species Native to Missouri Native Range: United States and Central America Zone: 2 to 11 Height: 3.00 to 10.00 feet Spread: 1.50 to 3.00 feet Bloom Time: July to August Bloom Description: Yellow, red, mahogany, bicolor rays with brown to purple center disk Sun: Full sun Garden locations Culture Annual. Easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates poor soils that are on the dry side. Plant seed in the garden after last frost date. Plants grow so rapidly that there is little reason to start seed indoors. Taller varieties should be sited in locations sheltered from strong winds.

Plant foliage often depreciates as the summer progresses. Removal of browned and tattered plants from the garden after bloom may improve the appearance of the landscape, but is a great disappointment to local bird populations that love to feed on the seeds. If the plants must come down, consider saving the seed heads for feeding the birds in winter. Harvest seed from favorite plants for use the following year (some cultivars will not reliably come true from seed however). Noteworthy Characteristics Helianthus annuus is native to dry plains, prairies, meadows and foothills in the western U.S., Canada and northern Mexico. It is a coarse, hairy, leafy, fast-growing annual that typically grows 5-10’ tall on stiff upright stalks. The species is a somewhat weedy plant that is now commonly seen growing along roads, fences, fields and in waste areas west of the Mississippi River and is the state flower of Kansas. It is native to Missouri, primarily in the northern part of the State. Species plants feature 3-6” wide sunflowers with orange-yellow rays and brown to purple center disks. Flowers bloom in summer.

Extensive crossing and hybridizing have resulted in a large number of cultivars that greatly expand the range of flower colors (ray flowers in bright and pastel shades of yellow, red, mahogany, bronze, white and bicolors) and flower head shapes (short rays, long rays, some doubles). Dwarf varieties (1-3’ tall) and mammoth varieties (to 15’ tall) are also available. Flower heads on mammoth varieties can reach 12” in diameter. Disk flowers give way to the familiar sunflower seeds. Large, ovate to triangular, sandpapery leaves to 12” long. Sunflowers have become very popular commercial cut flowers throughout the world. Cultivated varieties are also commercially grown for their edible seeds which are used inter alia in livestock feed, as birdseed and for cooking oils. Genus name comes from the Greek words helios meaning sun and anthos meaning flower. Specific epithet means annual. Flower heads tend to follow the path of the sun each day from morning to night, hence the common name. Problems Rust, leaf fungal spots and powdery mildew are somewhat common. Caterpillars and beetles often chew on the foliage.

May need staking, particularly if grown in exposed locations. Garden Uses Specimen or mass. Borders, cottage gardens, bird gardens, wildflower or native plant gardens. Large varieties for border rears or backgrounds. Dwarf varieties for beds, border fronts or containers. Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Related Ingredients | Cosmetics Info Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Related Ingredients What Is It? Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is a clear, slightly amber-colored liquid. The addition of hydrogen atoms to sunflower seed oil results in Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil. Sunflower Seed Glycerides is a mixture of mono-, di- and triglycerides derived from sunflower seed oil, while Sunflower Seed Glyceride is the monoglyceride derived from sunflower seed oil. Sunflower Seed Acid is a mixture of fatty acids derived from sunflower seed oil.

In cosmetics and personal care products, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and the other sunflower oil-derived ingredients are used in the formulation of a wide variety of product types, including bath products, makeup, cleansing products, depilatories, hair conditioners, shampoos, other hair care products, skin care products, and suntan products. Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products? The following functions have been reported for Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and the ingredients derived from sunflower seed oil. - Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Scientific Facts: Plant derived (botanical) ingredients were among the very first cosmetics. Natural colorants, plant juices for soothing and protection from insect pests, and fragrant oils for imparting odor were all known and used in ancient times. Using plants as a source of cosmetic ingredients was the only way to produce products for cleaning, moisturizing, covering up blemishes and even treating minor skin conditions before our knowledge of science allowed the creation of new materials to improve on what nature offers.

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds of the sunflower, Helianthus annuus, consisting primarily of triglycerides of linoleic and oleic acids. It is commonly used in food as a frying oil and supplies more vitamin E than any other vegetable oil. Safety Safety Information: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes sunflower seed oil and its triglycerides or fatty acids on its list of indirect food additives. These ingredients may be used as components of resinous and polymeric coatings having incidental contact with food. The safety of Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil and Sunflower Seed Acid has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe for use as ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. Botanical and botanically derived ingredients used in the formulation of cosmetics are generally mild and safe. Prior to marketing the finished cosmetic product, the safety of each ingredient must be substantiated in accordance with 21 CFR 740.10.

Safety substantiation of cosmetic ingredients may include tests for ocular and skin irritation as well as allergenicity, phototoxicity, photoallergenicity and mutagenicity, depending on the application or intended use. There is a considerable body of information about the safety of Botanical ingredients and a well established history of use. These resources are consulted to ensure the safety of these materials as they are used in cosmetics. More safety Information: CIR Review: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil and Sunflower Seed Acid were included in the CIR Expert Panel's review of plant-derived fatty acids oils. Based on a history of safe use in food, the composition of the oils, and data indicating these ingredients were not dermal irritants or sensitizers, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that plant-derived fatty acid oils including Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil and Sunflower Seed Acid were safe as used in cosmetic products. In selecting botanical ingredients for preparation of cosmetic products, formulators rely on the extensive history of their preparation and use.

Such materials have been used for a long time and, based upon this experience; extensive knowledge of their safety has been gained. In the situation of newly identified botanicals in the cosmetic industry, appropriate ocular and skin safety studies are conducted prior to release into general commerce. There are many different references that describe the isolation, use and safety of botanical preparations. Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for sunflower seed oil and its components Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: More scientific Information: A botanical ingredient is a plant or plant part obtained from natural plant sources. Botanical ingredients are among the oldest materials used in the preparation of cosmetics and are valued for their properties, such as color, flavor, and/or scent. Botanical ingredients can be prepared from all or some of the parts of the plant. They may also be obtained using extracting solvents (such as alcohol ), infusion with water, steam treatment to obtain essential oils or simply by drying and grinding the material. It is important to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) to make sure the ingredient composition is consistent from one batch to another and to make sure that the ingredient does not degrade or grow microorganisms. In naming plants, botanists use a Latin name made up of the genus and species of the plant.

For example, under this system the plant, sunflower is known as Helianthus annuus L., where "L" stands for Linneaus, who first described the type of plant specimen. Plants are also known by a common name that has been handed down through generations. These common names may vary from country to country. Therefore, Latin names, which are more likely to be recognized in many countries, are frequently used on the label of a product to identify an ingredient made from plants. Resources Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin Asteraceae (Aster Family) Synonym(s): Helianthus annuus ssp. jaegeri, Helianthus annuus ssp. lenticularis, Helianthus annuus ssp. texanus, Helianthus annuus var. lenticularis, Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus, Helianthus annuus var.

texanus, Helianthus aridus, Helianthus lenticularis USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I), HI (I), PR (I), CAN (I), SPM (I) Common sunflower is a widely branching, stout annual, 1 1/2-8 ft. tall, with coarsely hairy leaves and stems. The terminal flowers heads are large and showy, up to 5 in. across. A tall, coarse leafy plant with a hairy stem commonly branched in the upper half and bearing several or many flower heads, the central maroon disk surrounded by many bright yellow rays. Yellow ray flowers surround brown disk flowers. The state flower of Kansas. Contrary to common myth, the heads of sunflowers do not follow the sun each day. However, developing flower buds and leaves do exhibit some phototropism. The plant has been cultivated in Central North America since pre-Columbian times; yellow dye obtained from the flowers, and a black or dull blue dye from the seeds, were once important in Native American basketry and weaving. Native Americans also ground the seeds for flour and used its oil for cooking and dressing hair.

In the 19th century it was believed that plants growing near a home would protect from malaria. In the United States and Eurasia seeds from cultivated strains are now used for cooking oil and livestock feed. Many variants have been developed, some with one huge head topping a stalk 9-16 ft (3-5 m) tall, others with maroon rays. Prairie Sunflower ( H. petiolaris ), found throughout the Great Plains and similar to the wild forms of Common Sunflower, has scales on the disk in the center of the head tipped by white hairs, easily visible when the central flowers are spread apart. Developed in a single large head variety by Russians. CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium Soil Description: Dry, disturbed clays or heavy sands. Conditions Comments: Common sunflower spreads rapidly by seed, especially in disturbed sites. It has been shown to have an allelopathic effect on other plants. Many subspecies intergrade throught the species range. The cultivated giant sunflower is a member of H. annuus, derived through artificial selection. Benefit Use Wildlife: Sunflowers intermixed with other annuals provide good cover for many species of wildlife.

Seeds are sought by many species of wild birds. Use Food: Sunflower seeds are popular in breads, cereals, salads and many other dishes. Although we usually think of only the seeds as edible, the bright yellow strap-like florets make a colourful salad garnish. (Kershaw) Use Medicinal: Flower heads with bracts removed boiled to make remedy for pulmonary troubles. Poultice of flowers used for burns. (Kindscher) Crushed root applied as a mash to draw blister. (Weiner) Roots chewed and applied to swollen area of rattlesnake bites after venom was sucked out. (Steiner) American Indians used flower tea for lung ailments, malaria. Leaf tea taken for high fevers; astringent poultice on snake bites and spider bites. Seeds and leaves said to be diuretic, expectorant. Use Other: In the 19th century it was believed that plants growing near a home would protect from malaria. (Niering) Recent uses include making silage from the plant and extracting the oil to make soap.

(Niering) Conspicuous Flowers: yes Plants Profile for Helianthus (sunflower) click on a thumbnail to view an image, or see all the Helianthus thumbnails at the Plants Gallery ©Thomas G. Barnes. Barnes, T.G., and S.W. Francis. 2004. Wildflowers and ferns of Kentucky Helianthus annuus - Common Sunflower, Wild Sunflower - Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants Contact Search for: Synonyms: Helianthus aridus, H. lenticularis Common Names: Common Sunflower, Wild Sunflower Plant Characteristics Growth Habit: Herb/Forb Arizona Native Status: Native Habitat: Desert, Upland, Mountain. It grows in on roadsides, in fields, along desert washes, and in grassy areas.

Flower Color: Yellow rays Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Height: Up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall, but usually less, around 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) tall Description: The flower heads are up to 5 inches (13 cm) across and have yellow, pleated rays and a red-brown central disk. The leaves have a rough, scratchy texture and are green, lance-ovate, egg-shaped, or heart-shaped, and up to 1 foot (30 cm) long. The stem leaves are alternate. The leaves and stems are covered in stiff hairs. This wildflower is highly variable and also hybridizes easily. Other similar Helianthus species found here have different leaves (grayish-green in color or shaped differently), are shorter plants, and/or have smaller flowers. Common Sunflowers have many cultivars and are grown as a seed and oil crop, as ornamental garden flowers, and as a wildlife food plant. Birds and squirrels love the seeds. Special Characteristics Allergenic – The glandular hairs on the foliage can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals (sunflower allergy).

Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract butterflies, especially Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae) in the fall. Culturally Significant Plant – This wild plant was first cultivated and domesticated by Native Americans for use as a seed crop, and with careful selection, they developed varieties with much larger seeds. The seeds were eaten and also used to make sunflower oil. Edible – The seeds are the typical edible sunflower seeds, but they are very small in wild plants, unlike with the cultivated varieties used for commercial seed production. Poisonous – These otherwise edible plants can accumulate nitrate from the soil, which can sicken cattle that eat the foliage. The mature seeds are not affected and are safe to eat. Classification Common Sunflower - Helianthus annuus - Details - Encyclopedia of Life Learn more about this article Sunflowers need full sun. Irrigation is required until they become established. Seed Propagation: When the soil has warmed up to at least 45ºF (7ºC) in the spring, sow hardy sunflower seeds where they are to flower.

Seeds can also be sown in pots or seed trays and either planted out in their final positions in late fall or overwintered in a cold frame to be planted out in spring. This technique is particularly useful in gardens with clay soil that is slow to warm up in spring. There are two main methods of sowing outdoors in situ: broadcast and in drills. For both, prepare the seedbed first. Dig over the soil to one spade’s depth, then rake over and firm. Broadcast Sowing: Sprinkle seeds thinly and evenly on the surface of the prepared seedbed and rake them in lightly. Label seedbeds, then water the area gently but thoroughly with a fine spray. Sowing in Drills: Using either a trowel tip or the corner of a hoe, mark out shallow drill holes 3-6” (8-15 cm) apart, depending on the ultimate size of the plant. Sow seeds thinly and evenly by sprinkling or placing them along each drill at the appropriate depth. Carefully cover with soil and firm. Label each row and water gently but thoroughly with a fine spray. To prevent overcrowding, the seedlings usually need to be thinned.

To minimize disturbance to a seedling being retained, press the soil around it after thinning the adjacent seedlings. Water the newly establishing seedlings fairly frequently until the roots have developed. Support is required for the sunflower stems. Stakes help support the stem and protect the seedlings from rodent or bird damage. Birds and small mammals love both the sunflower seeds and the tender young seedlings. A scarecrow or netting may be necessary to protect the plants from herbivores.

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center Learn more about this article Cultivars: Apache Brown Striped, Autumn Beauty Hybrids, Aztec Gold, Bellezza d’Autuno, Big Smile, Black Oil, Color Fashion Hybrids, Confection, Daisetsuzan, Discovery, Evening Sun, Floristan, Full Sun, Fun Sun, Gloriosa Polyheaded, Gold & Silver, Gray-Stripe, Hallo, Happy Face, Havasupai Striped, Henry Wilde, Holiday, Hopi Dye, Inca Jewels, Incredible, Italian White, Lion’s Mane, Lemon Queen, Luna, Mammoth Russian, Monster, Moonwalker, Music Box, Orange Sun, Park’s Velvet Tapestry, Paul Bunyan, Peredovik, Piccolo, Provance Hybrids, Silverleaf, Sonja, Sun Hybrids, Sunbeam, Sunbright, Sunburst Hybrids, Sunrise, Sunset, Sunspot, Taiyo, Tangina, Teddy Bear, Tarahumara White, Valentine, Vanilla Ice, Velvet Queen, and Zebulon. HEAN3 is widely available through local nurseries and seed companies.

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center In pre-European settlement times, the Hidatsa cultivated sunflowers in the following ways (Wilson 1917): 1) Garden plots were created from wooded and brushy areas in river bottomlands. 2) Brush cleared for planting was spread over the plots and burned, for it was conventional wisdom that burning trees and brush “softened the soil and left it loose and mellow for planting”. Burning also added nutrients to the soil. Before setting fire to the fields, the dry grass, leaves, and brush were removed from the edges of the fields so the fire wouldn’t spread. 3) Plots were allowed to lay fallow, and were taken out of production for two years to let them rejuvenate. 4) Sunflowers were the first seeds planted in the spring. Planting was done using a hoe. Three seeds were planted in a hill, at the depth of the second joint of a woman’s finger. The three seeds were planted together, pressed into the loose soil by a single motion, with the thumb and first two fingers. The hill was heaped up and patted firm. Sunflowers were planted only around the edges of a field.

The hills were placed eight or nine paces apart. There were several varieties of sunflowers; black, white, red, and striped colors occurred in the seeds. 5) Seeds were harvested by spreading sunflower heads on the roof to dry. The heads were laid face downward, with the backs to the sun. After the heads had dried for four days, the heads were threshed by laying them on the floor face downwards and beating them as a stick. An average threshing filled a good-sized basket, with enough seed left over to make a small package. 6) Parched sunflower seeds were pounded in the corn mortar to make meal. Sunflower meal was used in a dish called four-vegetables-mixed; it included beans, dried squash, pounded parched sunflower seed, and pounded parched corn. 7) Sunflower seed balls were made of sunflower seed meal. In the olden times, every warrior carried a bag of soft skin with a sunflower-seed ball, wrapped in a piece of buffalo-heart skin. When worn with fatigue or overcome with sleep and weariness, the warrior took out his sunflower-seed ball, and nibbled at it to refresh himself.

Each garden plot was “owned” and tended by a woman who cleared it. It was kept cleared of weeds and birds were chased off. USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center Learn more about this article Ethnobotanic: The sunflower is a native domesticated crop. During the last 3,000 years, Indians increased the seed size approximately 1,000 percent. They gradually changed the genetic composition of the plant by repeatedly selecting the largest seeds (Yarnell 1978). Originally cultivated by North American Indians, it has a long and interesting history as a food plant (Kindscher 1987). Sunflower seeds were and still are eaten raw, roasted, cooked, dried, and ground, and used as a source of oil. Flower buds were boiled. The roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute. The Mescalero and Chiricahua Apache made extensive use of wild sunflowers. The Hidatsa used wild verse cultivated sunflowers in the production of cooking oil because the seeds of their smaller flower heads produced superior oil (Wilson 1917).

In the Northeast, sunflowers are part of the Onandaga (Iroquois) creation myth (Gilmore 1977). In the Southwest, the Hopi believe that when the sunflowers are numerous, it is a sign that there will be an abundant harvest (Whiting 1939). In the prairies, the Teton Dakota had a saying, “when the sunflowers were tall and in full bloom, the buffaloes were fat and the meat good” (Gilmore 1977). Helianthus seeds were eaten by many California natives, and often ground up and mixed with other seeds in pinole (Strike 1994). The sunflower was used for food in Mexico and had reputed medicinal value in soothing chest pains (Heiser 1976). Francisco Hernandez, an early Spanish explorer, ascribed aphrodisiac powers to the sunflower (Ibid.). Charles H. Lange, an anthropologist at the University of Texas, wrote that “among the Cochiti, a reliable ‘home remedy’ for cuts and other wounds is the juice of freshly crushed sunflower stems.

The juice is smeared liberally over the wounds, bandaged, and invariably results in a speedy recovery, with never a case of infection” (Heiser 1976). According to Moerman (1986) sunflowers were used in the following ways: The Cherokee used an infusion of sunflower leaves to treat kidneys. The Dakota used an infusion of sunflowers for chest pains and pulmonary troubles. The Gros Ventres, Rees, and Mandan used sunflowers ceremonially; oil from the seeds were used to lubricate or paint the face and body. The Gros Ventres, Mandan, Rees, and Hidatsa used sunflower seeds as a stimulant, taken on a war party or hunt to alleviate fatigue. The Hopi used the sunflower plant as a “spider medicine” and dermatological aid. The Navajo ate sunflower seeds to stimulate the appetite. The Navaho-Kayenta used the plant for the sun sand painting ceremony and as a disinfectant to prevent prenatal infections caused by the solar eclipse.

The Navaho-Ramah used a salve of pulverized seed and root to prevent injury from a horse falling on a person and as a moxa of the pith to remove warts. The Paiute used a decoction of sunflower root to alleviate rheumatism. Pawnee women ate a dry seed concoction to protect suckling children. The Pima applied a poultice of warm ashes to the stomach for worms and used a decoction of leaves for high fevers and as a wash for horses’ sores caused by screwworms. The Thompson Indians used powdered sunflower leaves alone or in an ointment on sores and swellings. The Zuni used a poultice of sunflower root to treat snakebite, along with much ritual and ceremony. Purple and black dyes extracted from wild sunflowers were used to dye basketry materials. A yellow dye was also derived from the ray flowers. The Hopi Indians grew a sunflower variety with deep purple achenes, and obtained a purple dye by soaking them in water (Heiser 1976). The dye was used to color basketry or to decorate their bodies.

The Teton Dakotas boiled flower heads from which the involucral bracts had been removed as a remedy for pulmonary troubles (Gilmore 1977). Pawnee women who became pregnant while still nursing a child took a sunflower seed medicine to prevent sickness in the child (Kindscher 1992). In the southwest, Zuni medicine men cured rattlesnake bites by chewing the fresh or dried root, then sucking the snakebite wound (Camazine and Bye 1980). The wild sunflower was worn in the hair of the Hopi Indians of Arizona during various ceremonies, and carved wooden sunflower disks found at a prehistoric site in Arizona almost certainly were employed in ceremonial rituals (Heiser 1976). Agricultural: Early American colonists did not cultivate sunflowers. The sunflower probably went from Mexico to Spain, and from there to other parts of Europe (Heiser 1976). The Russians developed the Mammoth Russian or Russian Giant sunflower and offered these varieties as seeds, which in 1893 were reintroduced to the United States. Sunflowers are used as a source of vegetable oil. The seeds are used for snacks and for bird food.

Medicinal: Medicinal uses for the sunflower utilized by the Europeans include use as a remedy for pulmonary affections, a preparation of the seeds has been widely used for cold and coughs, in the Caucasus the seeds have served as a substitute for quinine in the treatment of malaria, and sunflower seeds are used as a diuretic and expectorant (Heiser 1976). Sunflower pith has been used by the Portuguese in making moxa, which was used in the cauterization of wounds and infections. An infusion from the flowers has been used to kill flies. A variety of terpenoid compounds have been found in Helianthus species, primarily sesquiterpene lactones and diterpenes (Gershenzon and Mabry 1984). These substances probably offer sunflowers protection against some insects. Horticultural: Sunflowers are cultivated as ornamentals or garden plants, where the blooms are cherished for their beauty, and the seeds can be eaten by both humans and wildlife. Game birds, songbirds, and rodents (Martin et al. 1951) eat the large, nutritious seeds of sunflowers.

These attractive weedy plants are of outstanding value to wildlife in the prairies and other parts of the West. Birds eating the seeds include Wilson snipes, doves, grouse, ring-necked pheasants, quail, blackbirds, bobolinks, lazuli buntings, black-capped chickadees, cowbirds, white-winged crossbills, crows, house finches, goldfinches, purple grackles, horned larks, longspurs, meadowlarks, white-breasted nuthatches, pyrrhuloxias, ravens, sparrows, and tufted titmice. Small mammals who relish the seeds include the least chipmunk, eastern pocket gopher, ground squirrels, lemmings, meadow mice, pocket mice, white-footed mice, prairie dogs, and kangaroo rats. Muskrats eat the stems and foliage. Antelope, deer, and moose browse on the plants. Industry: Sunflower stalks have been used as fuel, fodder for livestock, food for poultry, and ensilage (Heiser 1976).

In the Soviet Union, after the dried flower stalks have been used for fuel, the ashes are returned to the soil. The seed hulls could be used for “litter” for poultry or returned to the soil or composted. A few years ago, it was found that the hulls could be used in fuels. Today the hulls are used in the Soviet Union in manufacturing ethyl alcohol and furfural, in lining plywood, and in growing yeast. The stems have been used as a source of commercial fiber. The Chinese have used this fiber for the manufacturing of fabrics. Other countries are experimenting with the use of fiber in paper. USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

Question: The plant ‘Helianthus Annuus’ is more commonly known by what name?
Answer: Sunflower