Lettuce and sunflowers are part of the Asteraceae family, one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants. Many of the members of this family are grown for food, including lettuce and the Jerusalem artichoke. Others are considered ornamental, including asters, daisies, and marigolds. This family also includes medicinal flowering plants such as chamomile and plants used to produce oils used in cooking, such as sunflower and safflower.
More facts about lettuce and sunflowers:
Lettuce has been cultivated for centuries. The first reports of the use of lettuce as food date back to the 6th century BC. C. Various cultures, including those of ancient Egypt, Rome, and China, cultivated lettuce for many years before its introduction to the Americas.
There is controversy over exactly when lettuce was introduced to the Americas. Some traditions claim that it was one of the foods introduced by Christopher Columbus. What is known is that by the time of the American Revolutionary War, lettuce was firmly established as a food in the American colonies.
The sunflower is native to North America and was first domesticated around 1000 BC. C. Early American Indians ground the flowers into flour to make bread, and the seeds were boiled to collect the oil for various tasks, including cooking.