Just before the official start of summer, large fields all over the country are developing millions of mini-suns. Each sunflower plant grows one flower that is small compared to the sun but, at the same time, giant in comparison to other flowers. So central to this flower, the sun is referenced in its English, Hebrew and scientific names, and probably in other languages, too. The sunflower is an important plant. In addition to its majestic beauty, it is edible, producing healthy oil and tasty crunchy fruits in the very familiar sunflower seeds. The seeds can also be used as food for many species of birds, such as the goldfinch and the great tit, as well as for Israeli soccer fans. For the honeybee, the sunflower is a treasure for pollen and is the main source for the flower's pollination. This plant needs full exposure to sunlight in order to grow well, but its love for the sun cannot encourage the flower head to follow the sun, as the legend says. In fact, the mature plant is rigid and fixed in its direction, which most of the time points to the east. Nonetheless, it is still an interesting fact that all the flowers point in the same direction. The sunflower was first domesticated in the Americas, in what is now Mexico, approximately 4,600 years ago. It was used as an important plant by the indigenous Americans and served as one of the most important plants in their agriculture, surpassed by corn. The Aztecs and Incas, who worshiped the sun as a god, made the sunflower an unmistakable symbol representing their belief. In 1510, the sunflower seed was introduced in Europe by Spanish sailors, and now is an important agricultural item in many countries. The secrets of the sunflower continue to be revealed. Scientists and researchers are working on other benefits of the plant and discovered that it is a good absorber of toxic waste from disasters like Chernobyl and more recently in Fukushima, Japan. The sunflower also possesses a chemical that is used in the rubber industry. Who knows what is yet to be revealed about this special plant? Meanwhile, while driving across the country, you should at least appreciate the beauty of these giant little suns, which shine on as the last hints of spring.
