Pics and text by Rajtilak Naik for Daijiworld News Network - Goa

February 25, 2006

With the onset of the summer season, sunflowers are in full bloom in Goa and the suburban regions.

About sunflower

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae with a large flower-head (inflorescence). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with the flower-head reaching 30cm in diameter. The sunflower is notable for turning to face the Sun, a behavior known as heliotropism. As is commonly believed the ‘sun-flower’ always faces towards the sun because it is photosensitive.
 
Helianthus (family Asteraceae) : The common sunflower is an annual herb with a rough hairy stem; high, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves; and heads of flowers 7.5 to 15 cm wide in wild specimens and often 0.3 m or more in cultivated types. The disk flowers are brown, yellow, or purple; the ray flowers are yellow. The oval hairy leaves are arranged in spirals.
 
Oil is extracted from the seeds of the sunflower plant. It is rich in Vitamins A,C, D, and E. The high Vitamin E content makes this oil especially helpful for delicate and dry skin. Sunflower Oil has a protective effect on the skin and is believed to have healing properties when applied to bruises and skin diseases.