Various sunflower seed varieties .

The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp (hull). Botanically speaking, it is more properly referred to as an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel. Illustration of sun flowers, I took this picture myself to illustrate a new article on sun flowers File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Illustration of sun flowers, I took this picture myself to illustrate a new article on sun flowers File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ... Look up Misnomer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Species Elaeis guineensis Elaeis oleifera The oil palms (Elaeis) coomprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. ... An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. ...

For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed into sunflower oil. Additionally, these seeds are usually considered the seed of choice for bird feeders.^[1] A hummingbird feeder - dye should not be used in the liquid provided Bushtits on a suet feeder An empty bird-seed dispenser A birdfeeder, bird feeder, or bird table is a device placed out-of-doors to supply bird food to birds. ...

If the husks are striped, the seeds are called striped sunflower seeds or "stripers." Due to their lower oil content, the crops are called non-oilseed sunflower crops. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may also be called confectionery sunflower seeds. It has been suggested that Candy be merged into this article or section. ...

There is also a sunflower seed that is whitish in hue, which has no current commercial use. Most commonly, sunflower seeds are black with white stripes or plain black.

Cultivation

Top Sunflower Seed Producers - 2005
Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)^[2]

Rank	Country	106 M/T	Country area (km²)
1	Russia	6.3	&0000000017098242.00000017,098,242
2	Ukraine	4.7	&0000000000603700.000000603,700
3	Argentina	3.7	&0000000002780400.0000002,780,400
4	China	1.9	&0000000009598086.0000009,598,086
5	India	1.9	&0000000003166414.0000003,166,414
6	United States	1.8	&0000000009629091.0000009,629,091
7	Turkey	1.0	&0000000000783562.000000783,562
8	Bulgaria	0.9	&0000000000110912.000000110,912
9	South Africa	0.7	&0000000001221037.0000001,221,037
10	Serbia	0.5	&0000000000077474.00000077,474
	World Total	31.1

These seeds have been cultivated for several thousand years, originally in the Mississippi River valley, the oldest known site being in Tennessee. They have been used by Native Americans for nearly 5,000 years. They were brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadors. A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Serbia. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ...

When grown during it full season, big sunflower crops may yield more than 1000 pounds/acre (1121 kilograms/hectare). In some areas of the United States, sunflowers can also be grown as a double crop, so that the same area can be used for two harvests in the same season. However, it is not recommended that sunflowers be planted in the same area more than once every three to four years.^[3]

Seeds

Sunflower seeds are more commonly eaten as a healthy snack than as part of a meal. They can also be used as garnishes or ingredients in various recipes. The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds or dehulled kernels. The seeds can also be sprouted and eaten in salads. Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk. ... Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system, absorbing water and making defecation easier. ... For other uses, see FAT. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. ... Saturated fat is fat that consists of triglycerides containing only saturated fatty acids. ... For discussion how dietary fats affect cardiovascular health, see Diet and heart disease. ... // In nutrition, polyunsaturated fat is an abbreviation of polyunsaturated fatty acid. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin showing coloured alpha helices. ... For the similarly spelled pyrimidine, see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as vitamin B1 and aneurine hydrochloride, is one of the B vitamins. ... Riboflavin (E101), also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed micronutrient with a key role in maintaining health in animals. ... Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin whose derivatives such as NADH, NAD, NAD+, and NADP play essential roles in energy metabolism in the living cell and DNA repair. ... Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5 (a B vitamin), is a water-soluble vitamin required to sustain life (essential nutrient). ... Pyridoxine Pyridoxal phosphate Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin. ... Folic acid (the anion form is called folate) is a B-complex vitamin (once called vitamin M) that is important in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing human fetus. ... This article is about the nutrient. ... The α-tocopherol form of vitamin E. Main articles: tocopherol and tocotrienol Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... Fe redirects here. ... Introduction Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. ... General Name, symbol, number phosphorus, P, 15 Chemical series nonmetals Group, period, block 15, 3, p Appearance waxy white/ red/ black/ colorless Standard atomic weight 30. ... General Name, symbol, number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, period, block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 39. ... Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or halite, is a chemical compound with the formula NaCl. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient considered sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals in each life-stage and gender group. ... Mixed bean sprouts Sprouting is the practice of soaking, draining, then rinsing at regular intervals seeds until they germinate and begin to sprout. ... —Cleopatra, in Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra, 1606 A salad is a food item generally served either prior to or after the main dish as a separate course, as a main course in itself, or as a side dish accompanying the main dish. ...

When in-shell seeds are processed, they are first dried. Afterwards, they may also be roasted and/or dusted with salt or flour for preservation of flavor. Upon consumption, in-shell seeds should be dehulled and the hull should be discarded before swallowing the kernel. Dehulling is commonly performed by cracking the hull with one's teeth and spitting it out while keeping the kernel in the mouth. This article is about common table salt. ... For other uses, see Flour (disambiguation). ...

In-shell sunflower seeds are particularly popular in Mediterranean countries, like Israel and Turkey, where they are called garinim and ayçekirdeği respectively. In Turkey and Israel, they can be bought freshly roasted in shops and markets and are a common stadium food. They are also popular in Spain, China, and the southeastern United States. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject: Roasting Roasting is a cooking method that utilizes dry heat, whether an open flame, oven, or other heat source. ... Look up Market in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the building type. ...

Dehulled kernels have been mechanically processed to remove the hull. These kernels may be sold raw or roasted. These dehulled kernels are sometimes added to bread and other baked goods for their flavor. There is also sunflower butter, similar to peanut butter, but utilizing sunflower seeds instead of peanuts. Apart from human consumption, sunflower seeds are also sold as food for pets and wild birds in boxes and small bags. For other uses, see Bread (disambiguation). ... Peanut butter in a jar. ...

Pressed oil

Main article: Sunflower oil

In modern society, sunflower oil is one of the most popular oils in the world. The oil may be used as is, or may be processed into polyunsaturated margarines. The oil is typically extracted by applying great pressure to the sunflower seeds and collecting the oil. After extraction, the pressed sunflower seed cake can be used, which is rich in proteins. Sunflower Oil is the non-volatile oil expressed from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds. ... Margarine in a tub Margarine (pronunciation: ), as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin showing coloured alpha helices. ...

The original sunflower oil (linoleic sunflower oil) is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 66% linoleic acid) and low in saturated fats, such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. However, various hybrids have been developed to alter the fatty acid profile of the crop for various purposes.^[4] Not to be confused with fats. ... Linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. ... Palmitic acid, or hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature, is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. ... A spacefilling model of the Stearic Acid molecule A diagram of the Stearic Acid molecule Stearic acid (IUPAC systematic name: octadecanoic acid) is one of the useful types of saturated fatty acids that comes from many animal and vegetable fats and oils. ... This article is about a biological term. ...

In the future, sunflower oil could become a renewable bio-source for hydrogen. A team for the University of Leeds has developed a workable method for the extraction of hydrogen from sunflower oil, through a chain of chemical reactions with nickel and carbon-based catalysts.^[5] However, while the plant's photosynthesis essentially captures the hydrogen, the energy necessary to liberate hydrogen gas from the hydrocarbons from sunflower oil is considerably greater than the energy of the liberated gas. Therefore, although sunflower oil could certainly be used for this purpose, it is not, by any means, a 'free' or even 'eco-friendly' source of energy. This article is about the chemistry of hydrogen. ... The University of Leeds is a major teaching and research university, one of the largest in the United Kingdom with over 32,000 full-time students. ... This article is about the chemistry of hydrogen. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Catalysis. ...

Health benefits

In addition to linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), sunflower seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium,calcium and zinc.^[6] Additionally, they are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.^[7] They are also low calorie food in regular sized servings^[clarify]. Linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. ... Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that cannot be constructed within an organism from other components (generally all references are to humans) by any known chemical pathways; and therefore must be obtained from the diet. ... Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system, absorbing water and making defecation easier. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin showing coloured alpha helices. ... The α-tocopherol form of vitamin E. Main articles: tocopherol and tocotrienol Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties. ... The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. ... mccall is cooool Dietary minerals are the chemical elements required by living organisms, other than the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen which are present in common organic molecules. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... Fe redirects here. ... General Name, symbol, number phosphorus, P, 15 Chemical series nonmetals Group, period, block 15, 3, p Appearance waxy white/ red/ black/ colorless Standard atomic weight 30. ... For other uses, see Selenium (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol). ... β-sitosterol Ergosterol. ...

References

See also

• List of edible seeds

A variety of species can provide edible seeds: Almonds Amaranthus Beans/Legumes, including Chickpeas Broad beans Lentils Peas Peanuts Phaseolus beans Soybeans Sweet peas (Lathyrus) Cocoa Carob tree Cereals, including Barley Buckwheat Kamut Maize Oats Rice Rye Sorghum Spelt Triticale Teff Wild rice Wheat Coconuts Common Hazel Coriander Ginkgo Monkey...

External links

• National Sunflower Association (United States)
• The World's Healthiest Foods: Sunflower seeds