Safflower

Kingdom: 	Plantae
Phylum: 	Magnoliophyta
Class: 	Magnoliopsida
Order: 	Asterales
Family: 	Asteraceae
Genus: 	Carthamus
Species: 	C. tinctorius
Binomial name
Carthamus tinctorius

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Cart_tin.html



Young plants form rosettes that tolerate temperatures as low as .7°C, but are unable to compete well with weeds.


Florets form a capitulum at the end of each stem, usually displaying hues of yellow, orange, red, and rarely white, which darken when dry


http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-433.html

Historically, safflower has been used for many purposes such as, a dye, food coloring, a medicinal, a vegetable side dish, hay and forage, birdseed, and most commonly for edible food oil (Li and Mündel 1996). Presently, safflower is grown primarily for oil in the United States. In Europe, however, safflower is used for both fresh-cut and dried flowers (Uher 1997).

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-433.html

10 cm apart within a row

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Carthamus_tinctorius.html
Tender shoots eaten as a salad and potherb. Seeds, both edible and nutritious, are eaten roasted or fried and used in chutney. 


Believed to have originated in southern Asia and is known to have been cultivated in China, India, Persia and Egypt almost from prehistoric times. During Middle Ages it was cultivated in Italy, France, and Spain, and soon after discovery of America, the Spanish took it to Mexico and then to Venezuela and Colombia. It was introduced into United States in 1925 from the Mediterranean region and is now grown in all parts west of 100th meridian.



Safflower takes the place of barley or other feed grains in rotation, and on dry lands the highest yields follow summer fallow.


Opium and safflower are said to be particularly suited to each other, although opium lands are often manured with cow-dung and ashes.


Germination will not begin until soil temperature exceeds 40°F.