Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an annual plant of the popular kenikir-kenikiran (Asteraceae), both as a hiasm plant and an oil-producing plant. This plant flower is very distinctive: large, usually bright yellow, with a large flower head (diameter can reach 30 cm). This flower is actually a compound interest, composed of hundreds to thousands of small flowers on one bump. Sunflower also has a typical behavior, the flowers are always facing / leaning toward the sun or heliotropisme. The Perancist called it tournesol or "the Sun's traveler." However, this trait is removed in new cultivars for oil production because it takes a lot of energy and reduces yield.
Sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and the official flower of the state of Kansas, USA.
There are four groups of cultivation for sunflower which are distinguished by their usefulness. The assembled cultivars are usually directed to one particular purpose only.
Oil producing group, used seed oil. The seeds of this group have a thin seed shell. The oil content ranges from 48% to 52%. To produce one liter of oil is required seeds from approximately 60 bunches of compound interest. Animal feeding group, harvested leaves as feed or green manure. A group of ornamental plants, which have a varied petal color and has many flowering branches, Quartz Group, to harvest the seeds As food.
