Abstract:
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) is a herbaceous annual and a member of the
Asteraceae/Compositae (sunflower) family. It is native to parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It was grown mainly for its flowers, which were used in making dyes for clothing and food. Today, it is grown mainly for its oil.
Safflower evaluations in the U.S. started in 1925 in the Great Plains, but commercial production did not begin until the 1950s. Production is concentrated in the western United States and the Canadian prairie provinces.
