How Do Sunflowers Spread Their Seeds? A Full Breakdown of Dispersal Methods
The sunflower, also known as the sun-facing flower, gets its name because its flower often faces the sun. The middle of its flower head consists of bisexual tubular florets, brown or purple, which can set seed. The fruit wall is lignified, gray or black, and is called a sunflower seed. So how do sunflowers spread their seeds?
1. How Sunflowers Spread Their Seeds
Sunflowers can spread their seeds with the help of the wind, or the grower can pick off seeds that are old enough and then sow them.
2. The Uses of Sunflowers
1. Food
Sunflower seeds contain protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins, folic acid, iron, potassium, zinc, and other nutrients essential to the human body. Sunflower seeds are nutritious and tasty, and are a very popular leisure snack. Shelled sunflower seed kernels can be cooked or used to make cakes, ice cream, mooncakes, and other sweets.
2. Medicinal use
Sunflower seeds, flower heads, stem pith, leaves, flowers, roots, and more can all be used as medicine. Sunflower seeds are sweet and neutral in nature and flavor, can expel parasites and stop dysentery, and because the seeds are rich in linoleic acid, they have a certain lipid-lowering effect. The seed oil can also serve as a base for ointments. The flower head can clear heat and resolve phlegm, cool the blood and stop bleeding, and is effective for headaches, dizziness, and similar complaints. The stem pith is a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. The leaves and petals can clear heat and detoxify, and can also serve as a stomachic. Sunflower roots, decocted in water, can treat frequent urination, urgency to urinate, painful urination, and similar conditions.
3. Economic value
Oilseed sunflowers are used for pressing oil and have important economic value; they can not only solve the edible oil problem in parts of China, but also drive the development of the livestock and processing industries. Sunflower oil contains 70% linoleic acid, is rich in vitamin E and carotene, and has a low melting point, melting at 17-27°C; it contains no harmful substance (carcinogen) erucic acid, making it a health oil of extremely high value and also the internationally popular first choice among health oils. The oil cake left after sunflowers are pressed for oil is an animal feed of extremely high nutritional value and has been widely used in the raising of livestock and poultry.
4. Ornamental value
The sunflower's flower head resembles the sun, with bright colors, simple and natural, full of vitality. They are generally planted in large patches, and when in bloom they are golden and dazzling, extremely spectacular, and deeply loved by everyone.
Sunflowers fall mainly into two major categories, edible and ornamental. The sunflower seed is called a sunflower seed, has a very high oil content, is a semi-drying oil, and is fragrant and tasty, for use as food. The flower spikes, seed hulls, and stems can be used as feed and industrial raw materials, such as for making rayon and paper pulp; the flower spikes are also used medicinally.