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Sunflower Facts!
Did you know....
- Sunflowers got their name because newly opened blooms often follow the movement of the sun through the sky, facing east in the morning and then moving to face the west in the afternoon?
- Sunflowers are native to North America and became an important crop around the world?
- Some archaeologists suggest that sunflowers may have been domesticated before corn?
- Sunflowers were a common crop grown by American Indian tribes throughout North America? The seeds were used in many foods; they were ground or pounded into flour for cakes, mush or bread.
- Parts of the sunflower plant were used for body ointments and medicines to cure snakebites and other ailments?
- The great Russian ruler Peter the Great liked sunflowers so much that by the 1700's sunflower seeds were being eaten all over Russia?
- Sunflowers are the state flower of Kansas?
- The tallest sunflower on record was 25 feet tall and was grown in the Netherlands?
- Sunflower oil is the preferred oil in most of Europe, East Europe, Russia, Mexico, countries along the Mediterranean and several South American countries?
- There are two basic types of sunflower varieties grown: the oil seed type and non-oil types, which supply the bird food and confectionery market?
- The oil seed type of sunflowers generally has small black seeds with thin hulls that hug tightly to the kernel. The seeds of these varieties contain 38 to 50 percent oil and about 20 percent protein.
The non-oil or confectionary types of sunflowers have larger seeds with a thicker hull that is loosely attached to the kernel and more easily removed. The kernels from these seeds make healthy, delicious snacks.
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