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Sunny Sunflowers
Introduction
The sunflower is a
flower that follows the sun.
It is yellow on the
outside and brown or black in the middle.
Sunflowers are an
annual plant which grow tall,
height can reach up to
12 feet.
The hairy stems are
rough and strong.
The round flowerheads
can range from 3 to 6 inches wide
or even up to one foot
in some species.
An average acre can
produce about 50 ushels of seeds.
Uses
This large flower has
many economic uses.
Every part of the
plant from the seeds
to the flowers to the
stems to the leaves can be used
for some practical
purpose.
The flowers being
yellow
can be converted into
a yellow dye.
The leaves can be fed
to cattle
and poultry or used
for mulch.
The stems being
fiberous can be transformed into paper.
And the seeds are bursting with valuable oil
which can be used for
the art of wool-dressing,
soap-making,
candle-making, mixing paint and as a lubricant.
Medicinal
The seeds are diuretic
and
have expectorant
properties.
They have been used to
treat bronchial,
laryngeal and
pulmonary affections,
colds, coughs
including whooping cough.
Mexico
Sunflowers are native
to Mexico and Peru.
The natives located
around the Mexico area
used them for
high-energy food
as they did with other
seeds as well.
Historians date this
first use at around 3000 B.C.
They used the seed
grounded into flour for making cakes,
for mush or for
breadmaking.
The seeds were also
squeezed for oil
which was used for
making bread.
The oil was also made
for rubbing into the hair and skin.
Sunflowers were also
good for purple dye for textiles,
body painting and
pottery.
Of course the plant
also had a medicinal use
such as snakebite and
various body ointments and teas.
Seeds were used in
ceremonies and rituals.
The stalks were a
sturty building material.
Peru
The Aztecs of Peru
revered the sunflower
and placed them in
their temples of the Sun
and they worked into
shape by artistry images
of them in pure gold.
High priestesses who
were crowned with sunflowers
also carried them in
their hands during special rituals.
Historical
Traverse
The royal sunflower
was brought by Spanish explorers
back to Europe. But it
was mainly the Russians
who worked to make it
the agricultural hybrids
that we know today.
Russian and even
German immigrants brought
the sunflower plant
back to North America
where they cultivated
it abundantly.
Nutrition
There are many
important vitamins and minerals
found in sunflowers.
The seeds are high protein,
low carbohydrate and
contain the best
whole-food source of vitamin E.
Oil from the seeds is
a light yellow colour.
It is often compared
to olive oil
and consided just as
valuable for common use.
There are other uses
too
but this is just to
introduce you
to the wonderful uses
of the sturdy sunflower.
And besides all of
this goodness,
it looks great growing
in your garden
and the seeds make a
good tasting snack too!
This
page is dedicated to my sunflower Robert!
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Updated August 04,
2009
Everything on this website:
CopyrightŠ2002-2009 by
Susan and Robert