like the “seed” of the strawberry, a single seed
contained in a thin hull. The seed is mainly
storage cotyledons. The sunflower originated
in the American Southwest, was domesticated
in Mexico nearly 3,500 years before the
arrival of European explorers, and brought to
Europe around 1510 as a decorative plant. The
first large crops were grown in France and
Bavaria in the 18th century to produce
vegetable oil. Today, the world’s leading
producer by far is Russia. Improved Russian
oil varieties were grown in North America
during World War II, and sunflower is now
one of the top annual oil crops worldwide. The
eating varieties are larger than the oil types,
with decoratively striped hulls that are easily
removed. Sunflower seeds are especially rich
in phenolic antioxidants and vitamin E.
barry
(Barry)
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