Editing Common sunflower (section)

===Phytoremediation===
''Helianthus annuus'' can be used in [[phytoremediation]] to extract pollutants from soil such as lead and other heavy metals, such as [[cadmium]], [[zinc]], [[cesium]], [[strontium]], and [[uranium]]. The phytoremediation process begins by absorbing the heavy metal(s) through the roots, which gradually accumulate in other areas, such as the shoots and leaves.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zhong |first1=Jiawen |last2=Liu |first2=Yeqing |last3=Chen |first3=Xinheng |last4=Ye |first4=Zihao |last5=Li |first5=Yongtao |last6=Li |first6=Wenyan |date=1 January 2024 |title=The impact of acid rain on cadmium phytoremediation in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123017803 |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=340 |issue=Pt 2 |pages=122778 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122778 |pmid=37863250 |bibcode=2024EPoll.34022778Z |issn=0269-7491}}</ref> ''Helianthus annuus'' can also be used in [[rhizofiltration]] to neutralize [[radionuclide]]s, such as [[caesium-137]] and [[strontium-90]] from a pond after the [[Chernobyl disaster]].<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Adler |first=Tina |title=Botanical cleanup crews: using plants to tackle polluted water and soil |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n3_v150/ai_18518620/?tag=content;col1 |magazine=Science News |date=20 July 1996 |access-date=3 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715211727/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n3_v150/ai_18518620/?tag=content;col1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2011 }}</ref> A similar campaign was mounted in response to the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]].<ref>{{cite web |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |url=http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110624/wl_asia_afp/japandisasteraccidentnuclearsunflowers |title=Sunflowers to clean radioactive soil in Japan |via=Yahoo News |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=2011-06-25 |archive-date=2011-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701010223/http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110624/wl_asia_afp/japandisasteraccidentnuclearsunflowers }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sunflowers melt Fukushima's nuclear "snow"|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-disaster-sunflowers-idUSTRE77I0PG20110819|access-date=22 January 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=19 August 2011|author=Antoni Slodkowski|author2=Yuriko Nakao|archive-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120153502/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/19/us-japan-disaster-sunflowers-idUSTRE77I0PG20110819|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Smithsonian" />

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Helianthus whorl.jpg|Head displaying florets in spirals of 34 and 55 around the outside
|Sunflower Seeds Kaldari.jpg|Seed dehulled (left) and with hull (right)
|Helianthus annuus pollen 1.jpg|Pollen close-up
}}