Common sunflower

"Sunflower" redirects here. For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation).

Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus cv. Sunfola

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helianthus
Species:
H. annuus
Binomial name
Helianthus annuus
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy
  • Helianthus aridus Rydb.
  • Helianthus erythrocarpus Bartl.
  • Helianthus indicus L.
  • Helianthus jaegeri Heiser
  • Helianthus lenticularis Douglas
  • Helianthus macrocarpus DC. & A.DC.
  • Helianthus multiflorus Hook.
  • Helianthus ovatus Lehm.
  • Helianthus platycephalus Cass.
  • Helianthus tubaeformis Nutt.

The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds, which are often eaten as a snack food. They are also used in the production of cooking oil, as food for livestock, as bird food, and as a plantings in domestic gardens for aesthetics. Wild plants are known for their multiple flower heads, whereas the domestic sunflower often possesses a single large flower head atop an unbranched stem.

  1. ^ Contreras, A., Rhodes, L. & Maxted, N. 2016. Helianthus annuus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T19073408A47600755. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T19073408A47600755.en. Accessed on 2 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Helianthus annuus L. Sp. Pl. : 904 (1753)". World Flora Online. World Flora Consortium. 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.