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Sunflowers (Helianthus Annus) belong to the compositae family. The plant was developed in North America where it has been grown by the Indians since 3,000 BCE The sunflower is the third most important source in the world for the production of edible oil The USSR is the chic cultivator of sunflowers, followed by North America. Seeds were brought to this country by immigrants from Russia who settled in Beer Tuvia. From these original seeds, the local sunflower strains which are now grown all over Israel (10-20.000 acres), have been developed.
The plants have upstanding stems bearing heads in the form of discs with yellow flowers. In Israel these heads contain 1-2.000 flowers which open up within one week The kernel is black white or striped. The local strains are striped. Pollination is effected by bees
The head has a typical movement towards the sun (heliotropism). It turns towards the sun together with its enfolding leaves and follows it as it moves across the sky. This movement ceases following pollination and once the flowers have opened up and been pollinated for the first time in the morning, the heads remain still and the ripening discs all turn towards the east
Sunflower seeds consist of 50-60% oil which is light yellow in colour and whose nutritional and medicinal value is equivalent to that of olive oil. It is used as a food, and for manufacturing margarine, cosmetics and special paints.
