LOYOLA FOR LEAF🌿

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a striking and iconic flowering plant known for its large, radiant blooms and tall, sturdy stems. Belonging to the Asteraceae family, the sunflower is not only admired for its beauty but also valued for its diverse applications. Native to North America, sunflowers have become a global symbol of warmth, positivity, and agricultural significance.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:

The common sunflower is an annual herb with a rough hairy stem 1–4.5 metres (3–15 feet) high and broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves 7.5–30 cm (3–12 inches) long arranged in spirals. The attractive heads of flowers are 7.5–15 cm wide in wild specimens and often 30 cm or more in cultivated types. The disk flowers are brown, yellow, or purple, while the petallike ray flowers are yellow. The fruit is a single-seeded achene. Oilseed varieties typically have small black achenes, while those grown for direct seed consumption, known as confection varieties, have larger black-and-white achenes that readily separate from the seed within.

USES:

1. Sunflower seeds are a rich source of oil, commonly used for cooking and frying.
2.Sunflower seeds are a nutritious snack, providing essential nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, and selenium.
3. Sunflower oil can be used in the production of biodiesel, providing an alternative and renewable source of energy.
4. In some traditional medicine practices, parts of the sunflower plant are used for their potential medicinal properties.
5.Sunflower petals can be used as a natural dye source for textiles and other materials.