common sunflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common sunflower
• annual sunflower
• common sunflower
• garden sunflower
• Sunflower
• Mirasol
• Ornamental Sunflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Helianthus annuus var. aridus
• Helianthus lindheimerianus
• Helianthus annuus mut. inornatus
• Helianthus grandiflorus
• Helianthus annuus var. apicalis
• Helianthus annuus var. basalis
• Helianthus pumilus
• Helianthus annuus var. chrysanthemoides
• Helianthus annuus var. convolutus
• Helianthus annuus var. coronatus
• Helianthus annuus var. dilutus
• Helianthus annuus f. fallax
• Helianthus annuus var. flavobasis
• Helianthus annuus subsp. jaegeri
• Helianthus annuus var. indicus
• Helianthus erythrocarpus
• Helianthus annuus var. latibasis
• Helianthus annuus subsp. texanus
• Helianthus annuus var. niger
• Helianthus annuus var. texanus
• Helianthus annuus var. pallescens
• Helianthus lenticularis
• Helianthus annuus var. passiflora
• Helianthus annuus lenticularis
• Helianthus annuus var. primulinus
• Helianthus annuus f. lenticularis
• Helianthus annuus var. pumilus
• Helianthus annuus subsp. lenticularis
• Helianthus annuus var. reversus
• Helianthus annuus var. lenticularis
• Helianthus annuus var. revolutus
• Helianthus annuus var. ruberrimus
• Helianthus aridus
• Helianthus annuus var. selene
• Helianthus indicus
• Helianthus annuus var. semivinosus
• Helianthus annuus f. silvester
• Helianthus annuus var. tortuosus
• Helianthus annuus var. trizonatus
• Helianthus annuus var. vinosissimus
• Helianthus annuus var. vinosus
• Helianthus aridus var. citrinus
• Helianthus lenticularis var. angustus
• Helianthus lenticularis var. aridus
• Helianthus lenticularis var. primulinus
• Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus
• Helianthus annuus var. californicus
• Helianthus annuus californicus
• Helianthus ultiflorus
• Helianthus macrocarpus
• Helianthus jaegeri
• Helianthus ovatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Helianthus, which includes the species Helianthus annuus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Helianthus annuus, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Furthermore, its distribution extends northward into the territory of Finland. The species is also documented in the island nations of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical reach includes the coastal and inland areas of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Helianthus annuus is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum. The species exhibits a significant elevational range, beginning at a minimum of 0 m AMSL and extending to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Despite this specific range, the distribution data indicates a mean elevational presence of 2630 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptability to varying topographical conditions within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2630 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Helianthus annuus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. Functionally, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by its reliance on ephemeral aerial organs to survive unfavorable conditions, as it survives the dormant period primarily in the form of seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures. This rapid developmental strategy allows the plant to exploit seasonal resource availability efficiently, focusing its energy on producing large, nutrient-rich inflorescences and a vast quantity of seeds to ensure the continuity of the next generation before the onset of frost or drought.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Helianthus annuus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is strictly self-supporting, lacking any vine or liana characteristics. In terms of stature, it displays significant variability in plant height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 4 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 2.175 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.175 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Helianthus annuus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, meaning it relies on soil nutrients rather than capturing prey. As a non-nitrogen fixer, the plant must acquire nitrogen through its root system from the surrounding environment. The vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaf dimensions showing significant variability; individual leaves can range from a minimum length of 3 cm to a maximum of 40 cm, and a width spanning from 1 cm to 10 cm. On average, the leaf size is approximately 109.01 cm², contributing to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 192.35 cm²/g, which reflects the plant's efficiency in balancing leaf surface area with biomass for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

109.01 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

192.35 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Helianthus annuus is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates its sexual reproductive cycle. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in September, producing large flower structures that can range in length from 30 cm to a maximum of 80 cm, often displaying a brown coloration. Self-fertilization is present within the species, and asexual reproduction is notably absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 1.275 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm). The resulting seeds are relatively uniform in length at approximately 12 mm, with a mean seed mass of 0.0262190565 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.001698 g to a maximum of 0.12 g) and a consistent mean seed volume of 44 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is primarily anthropochorous, relying on human activity for movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flower length max:

80 cm

Flower length min:

30 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.275 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

12 mm

Seed mass max:

0.12 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0262190565 g

Seed mass min:

0.001698 g

Seed volume max:

44 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Helianthus annuus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in chemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. Section C, Biosciences

Flower

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Seed

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Helianthus annuus has 270 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lysine, Ciliaric acid, Echinocystic acid, Grandifloric acid, IRON.

lysine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of nutrition
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Ciliaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Echinocystic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

Grandifloric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes

MANGANESE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes

Niveusin C

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. Section C, Biosciences

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

oleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

Activities

Helianthus annuus has 804 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic.

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Scientifica

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. Section C, Biosciences

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Helianthus annuus has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Gout, abiotic stress, antioxidant, chymotrypsin.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Scientifica

Gout

1. Current rheumatology reviews

Abiotic stress

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chymotrypsin

1. Roczniki Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku (1995)

Cold stress

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Dyslipidemia

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Fatty liver

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Hypertension

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Hyperuricemia

1. Archives of microbiology

Preparations

Helianthus annuus has 3 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Essential oils, flower disc, smoke.

Essential oils

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Flower disc

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Smoke

1. Frontiers in chemistry