Safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), an annual herbaceous plant with large orange-red flowerheads, belonging to the natural order Compositæ. It is believed to be indigenous to India and adjoining countries, but it may have had a wide distribution in the wild state, as safflower seeds have been found in ancient tombs in Egypt. Safflower is cultivated all over India, and to some extent also in Persia and Egypt, for the dye obtained from its flowers. It has likewise been cultivated in southern France and other countries. Formerly it was largely exported from India, but its importance in western Europe as a dyestuff has greatly diminished since the introduction of the coal-tar colours. Only 190 cwt. (value £830) was imported into Great Britain in 1889. The flowers yield both a red and a yellow dye, but the latter is of little value. A peculiar treatment of the flowers with an alkaline solution is required to obtain the red dye, which is called Carthamine. This substance dyes silk and also cotton of a beautiful red colour, but it is not permanent. It is used as a colouring matter of toilet Rouge (q.v.). The seeds of the safflower plant yield a useful lamp-oil, and they are given to fatten poultry. See DYEING, Vol. IV. p. 138.