About Carthamus tinctorius L.
Carthamus tinctorius L., commonly known as safflower, is a fast-growing, erect annual thistle-like herb that grows in winter or spring. The plant starts as a leaf rosette, from which a branched central terminal stem emerges as day length and temperatures rise. The main stem grows between 30โ150 cm (10โ60 inches) tall, and the plant develops a strong taproot that can reach 2 m (6 feet 7 inches) deep. First lateral branches form once the main stem reaches roughly 20โ40 cm (8โ16 inches) high; these lateral branches can branch again to produce secondary and tertiary branches. The amount of branching is affected by the plant variety and growing conditions. Safflower has elongated, serrated leaves that grow along the stem, reaching 10โ15 cm (4โ6 inches) long and 2.5โ5 cm (1โ2 inches) wide. The upper leaves that form bracts are typically short, stiff, and ovate, ending in a spine. Buds form at the tips of branches. Each composite flower head (capitulum) holds 20โ180 individual florets. Depending on variety, crop management, and growing conditions, one safflower plant can produce 3 to 50 or more flower heads, each 1.25โ4 cm (ยฝโ1ยฝ inches) in diameter. Flowering begins with the terminal flower heads on the central stem, followed sequentially by flower heads on primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary branches. Individual florets flower for 3โ4 days. Most commercial safflower varieties are largely self-pollinated. Flowers are most commonly yellow, orange, or red, though white and cream-colored forms also exist. The dicarpelled, epigynous ovary produces an ovule, and the mature plant produces achenes. Each flower head usually contains 15โ50 seeds, though the number can exceed 100. Seed shell content ranges from 30 to 60%, while seed oil content ranges from 20 to 40%. Traditionally, safflower was grown for its seeds. It was also used to add color and flavor to food, as an ingredient in medicines, and to produce red (carthamin) and yellow dyes, particularly before cheaper aniline dyes became widely available.
