| When you think
of a sunflower, do you think of a cart wheel sized yellow flower on
a monster stalk that towers over the garden? Sunflowers can indeed
be giants among their floral "peers". A quick search on
the Internet reveals that the sunflower holding the current height
record stood more than 25 feet tall!
Not every sunflower is grown
just for size. Most sunflowers are grown for consumption, either
as seeds or processed into oil. Sunflower seeds are a favorite snack
for both people and birds. Sunflower oil is low in saturated fat
and has a light, pleasing flavor.
Of course the sunflower is also chosen
to be grown simply for the beauty of its blooms. In addition to
the familiar noonday yellow, plant breeders have created sunflowers
in sunset shades of red and gold. An ornamental sunflower may produce
a dozen or more flowers on branching stems. Some top out at barely
three feet tall. Now you can order a sunflower arrangement over
the Internet without having to raise the ceiling to accommodate
it!
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