Common sunflower

Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus cv. Sunfola
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Helianthus
Species:	H. annuus
Binomial name
Helianthus annuus L.
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy Helianthus aridus Rydb. Helianthus erythrocarpus Bartl. Helianthus indicus L. Helianthus jaegeri Heiser Helianthus lenticularis Douglas Helianthus macrocarpus DC. & A.DC. Helianthus multiflorus Hook. Helianthus ovatus Lehm. Helianthus platycephalus Cass. Helianthus tubaeformis Nutt.

The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds which are used in the production of cooking oil.

The Helianthus annuus has a variety of purposes e.g. food for livestock, bird food, and planted in domestic gardens for aesthetics. The Helianthus annuus is known for its multiple flower heads, whereas the domestic sunflower often possesses a single large flower head atop an unbranched stem.