Sunflower

Sunflower seeds are harvested from the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), an annual plant in the Astaraceae family. Rich in vitamins, iron and magnesium, they are also known for their anti-tumor properties. What we normally call a sunflower flower is actually an inflorescence, made up of a set of flowers gathered together according to a defined pattern, yellow on the outside and generally black-grey on the inside. Each inflorescence or more correctly flower head can contain more than 1000 fruits, arranged in concentric hyperbolic spirals; the relative pericarp, the external casing of the hard and indigestible fruit, contains an almond of great industrial and food interest, improperly called seed.