Helianthus annuus - Common Sunflower

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) ^[E-flora]

Description

"General: Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, simple or branched above, rough stiff-hairy, 0.4-2 m tall. Leaves: Basal leaves lacking; lower leaves opposite, often heart-shaped; middle and upper leaves alternate, stalked, toothed, egg-shaped or wider, rough stiff-hairy. Flowers: Heads with ray and disk flowers, terminal; involucres 10-12 mm tall; involucral bracts graduated, egg-shaped to more oblong, with long-pointed tips, stiff-hairy with fringed margins; ray flowers yellow, up to 3 cm long; disk flowers numerous, reddish-purple, rarely yellow; receptacles flat, over 2 cm wide; Fruits: Achene compressed, glabrous or obscurely hairy, over 4 mm long; pappus of 2 firm, readily deciduous bristles with enlarged, thin, papery bases." [IFBC-E-flora]

Habitat/Range: "This, the state flower of Kansas, is apparently native from Minnesota to Idaho, south to Texas and California, extending into Mexico. It is said to be also a native of South America. It has long been cultivated, and as a garden plant has flower heads nearly a foot in diameter. It has escaped from cultivation about our eastern cities, where it quickly deteriorates into the wild form." [EWP] " Moist to dry waste places and disturbed areas in the steppe zone; rare in SC BC; probably introduced from the W U.S." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Exotic [PFAF]

Hazards

"The growing plant can accumulate nitrates, especially when fed on artificial fertilizers[76]. The pollen or plant extracts may cause allergic reactions[222]." [PFAF]

Edible Uses

• Leaf Petioles: "The leaf petioles are boiled and mixed in with other foodstuffs[7]." ^[PFAF]
• Seeds: "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]. " ^[PFAF]
• "The dark gray or blackish seeds of the wild plant are much smaller than those of the cultivated form, but are exceedingly numerous, with a white, oily, floury content that is rich in nutriment. They used to form an important part of the dietary of the Plains Indians, who sometimes cultivated the plants amid their corn." [Saunders]
• "The ripe seeds were parched and ground into meal, and bread made of this meal has been spoken of with approbation by white travelers—even as the equal of corn bread. There can be no doubt of its value in situations where the flours of civilization are difficult to procure." [Saunders]
• The seeds have long been used as food by the American Indians. ^[EWP]
• In Russia, the hulled seeds are ground into meal and baked into bread and cakes. In parts of Europe, they are roasted and used as a substitute for coffee. ^[EWP]
• "In Lewis and Clark's Journal, July 17, 1805, when they were along the Missouri River in western Montana, we find the following record:"
• "The Indians of the Missouri, more especially those who do not cultivate maize, make great use of the seed of this plant for bread, or in thickening their soup. They first parch and then pound it between two stones, until it is reduced to a fine meal. Sometimes they add a portion of water, and drink it thus diluted; at other times they add a sufficient proportion of marrow-grease to reduce it to the consistency of common dough, and eat it in that manner. This last composition we preferred to all the rest, and thought it at that time a very palatable dish." ^[EWP]
• Roasted: "The roasted seed is a coffee and drinking chocolate substitute[4, 7, 100, 102]. Another report says the roasted hulls are used[183]." ^[PFAF]
• Sprouted: "The sprouted seed can be eaten raw[183]. A nutritional analysis of the seed is available[218]." ^[PFAF]
• Fermented: "The germinated seed is said to be best for seed yoghurt, it is blended with water and left to ferment[183]." ^[PFAF]
• Flower Buds
• We also find that nearly three hundred years ago the flower buds were boiled and eaten with butter like artichokes. ^[EWP]
• "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]." ^[PFAF]
• Oil
• The seed yields 20 per cent oil which may be used for cooking, burning, or for soapmaking. The oil cake is an excellent food for cattle. ^[EWP]
• As a source of oil sunflower seed is by no means insignificant, yielding, according to Havard, about twenty per cent, of an excellent table article. [Saunders]
• "Cultivars with up to 50% oil have been developed in Russia[218]. The oil contains between 44 - 72% linoleic acid[218]." ^[PFAF]

Other Uses

"To most of us, indeed, the Wild Sunflower is a plant of unsuspected uses: its stalks possess a fibre of some worth and its flowers are good honey producers as well as a basis of a yellow dye said to be fast. [Saunders]

• Oil: "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]." [PFAF]
• Fibre
• "A high quality writing paper is made from the inner stalk[4, 14, 100, 101]." [PFAF] "A fibre from the stem is used to make paper[4] and a fine quality cloth[1, 94, 101]." [PFAF] "The stalks when treated like hemp, produce a fine silky fiber." ^[EWP]
• Stems: "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]." [PFAF]
• Kindling: "Both the dried stems and the empty seed receptacles are an excellent kindling[4]." [PFAF]
• Dye: "It is claimed by one of our government authorities that the flowers yield a fine yellow dye that seems permanent, and the bees make a superior quality of honey from them." ^[EWP] "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]." [PFAF]
• Misc: "A blotting paper is made from the seed receptacles[2, 4, 101, 117]." [PFAF]

Medicinal Uses

• Leaves
• "A tea made from the leaves is astringent, diuretic and expectorant, it is used in the treatment of high fevers[222]." [PFAF]
• "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]." [PFAF]
• Flowers: "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]." [PFAF]
• Seed: "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]." [PFAF]
• Root: "A decoction of the roots has been used as a warm wash on rheumatic aches and pains[257]." [PFAF]

Phytochemicals

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food. Seed (Fresh weight)

560 Calories per 100g Water : 4.8% Protein: 24g; Fat: 47.3g; Carbohydrate: 19.4g; Fibre: 3.8g; Ash: 4g; Minerals - Calcium: 120mg; Phosphorus: 837mg; Iron: 7.1mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 30mg; Potassium: 920mg; Zinc: 0mg; Vitamins - A: 30mg; Thiamine (B1): 1.96mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.23mg; Niacin: 5.4mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg; Reference: [218]^[PFAF]

"Environmental factors, especially temperature, during the period of achene development and maturation affect both the concentration and composition of oil in sunflower achenes (Seiler 1986). In a previous study, average oil concentration of wild H. annuus did not vary significantly when native populations were grown in a uniform environment (Seiler 1982). Achene oil concentrations for seven of the 22 perennial species grown at a common location were significantly different from achenes collected at the original population locations (Seiler 1985a). In that study, Helianthus tuberosus was one of the species that varied in oil concentration between the original and regenerated populations. Unfortunately, adequate achenes were not available for oil concentration analysis in the populations of H. tuberosus collected in the present study."^{[Seiler&Brothers]}

Cultivation

"Sunflowers can be grown as a spring-sown green manure, they produce a good bulk of material[87]." [PFAF]

"Root secretions from the plant can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[201]." [PFAF]

Synonyms

• Helianthus annuus subsp. jaegeri (Heiser) Heiser [E-flora]
• Helianthus annuus subsp. lenticularis (Douglas ex Lindl.) Cockerell [E-flora]
• Helianthus annuus subsp. texanus Heiser [E-flora]
• Helianthus annuus var. lenticularis (Douglas ex Lindl.) Steyerm. [E-flora]
• Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus (DC.) Cockerell [E-flora]
• Helianthus annuus var. texanus (Heiser) Shinners [E-flora]
• Helianthus aridus Rydb. Helianthus lenticularis Douglas ex Lindl. [E-flora]

HELIANTHUS SUNFLOWER

"Annual or perennial herb (subshrub). Stem: generally erect. Leaf: opposite or alternate, generally reduced distally on stem, often 3-veined from near base, generally ± flat, generally green, generally rough-hairy. Inflorescence: heads radiate, 1 or in cyme-like clusters; involucre bell-shaped to hemispheric; phyllaries in 1–3 generally ± equal series; receptacle flat to rounded, paleate; paleae 0–3-lobed. Ray flower: 10–many, sterile; ray yellow. Disk flower: many; corolla yellow to red or purple, tube short, throat base tapered or often swollen, lobes triangular; style appendages triangular. Fruit: oblanceolate to obovate, ± compressed, sides rounded; pappus generally of 2 deciduous, lanceolate to ovate scales (+ 0–several shorter scales).
53 species: America. (Greek: sun flower) [Schilling 2006 FNANM 21:141–169] Helianthus maximilianii Schrad. a garden plant only." ^[Jepson]

Local Species;

1. Helianthus annuus - common sunflower ^{[E-flora][TSFTK]}
2. Helianthus tuberosus - Jerusalem artichoke ^[E-flora]

Phytoremediation

"Two crop species Helianthus annus and perennial Helianthus tuberosus are used for phytoremediation of industrial polluted sites. The H. annus – sunflower is a common annual crop plant, accumulating big biomass up to 100 tons of fresh matter. It is tolerant to drought, exhibits strong allelopathic activity and high competitiveness against weeds. It is the best species in European conditions for phytoremediation, because of its good uptake of heavy metals including antimony, which during the last few years has become an increasing threat to the environment (Tschan et al. 2008). Helianthus tuberosus is perennial crop which is advantageous in cultivation because of lower cost and the polluted soil is not tilled. Although most of the hyperaccumulators accumulate small biomass, one of the exception is Berkheya coddi (Robinson et al. 2003)." [SoilBio-30]

References

• [E-flora] Helianthus annuus, Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2017. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 26/08/2018 11:57:56 PM ] http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Helianthus%20annuus
• [Jepson]2013. Helianthus, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=466, accessed on Jan 20 2015
• [Seiler&Brothers]OIL CONCENTRATION AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF ACHENES OF HELIANTHUS SPECIES (ASTERACEAE) FROM CANADA, GERALD J. SEILER AND MARY E. BROTHERS, Economic Botany 53(3) pp. 273-280. 1999