13. Safflower Carthamus tinctorius

Other names: bastard saffron

Annual, prefers dry conditions. Deep rooting so improves soil for subsequent crops.

Cultivated commercially for oil from the seeds. Dried petals can be used as a substitute for saffron to colour food or as a herbal tea.

The dye has been identified on early Egyptian textiles, and was also used to make pigments and cosmetics.

Dye: the flowers contain the orange-red pigment carthamin. They produce both a yellow dye for animal and plant fibres and a pink dye for silk and plant fibres but not wool. It is also possible to dye silk orange.