name: Sunflower
flavor_db_name_variants: sunflower
source: foodb
status: draft
food_db_id: Sunflower
id: 86
name_scientific: Helianthus annuus
description: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence (flowering head), and its name is derived from the flower's shape and image, which is often used to depict the sun. The plant has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of many individual flowers which mature into seeds, often in the hundreds, on a receptacle base. From the Americas, sunflower seeds were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking ingredient. Leaves of the sunflower can be used as cattle feed, while the stems contain a fibre which may be used in paper production.
itis_id: 36616
wikipedia_id: Sunflower
picture_file_name: 86.jpg
picture_content_type: image/jpeg
picture_file_size: 111070
picture_updated_at: 2012-04-20T09:41:21.000Z
legacy_id: 92
food_group: Herbs and Spices
food_subgroup: Oilseed crops
food_type: Type 1
created_at: 2011-02-09T00:37:19.000Z
updated_at: 2019-05-14T18:04:16.000Z
creator_id: null
updater_id: null
export_to_afcdb: false
category: specific
ncbi_taxonomy_id: 4232
export_to_foodb: true
public_id: FOOD00086