Safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual herb and a member of the Asteraceae family. It has long, spiny leaves and yellow or reddish flowers on a stiff, upright stem. The seeds produce an edible oil. Safflower grows to a height of about 1 m in poor, dry soils in full sun. Safflower is cultivated extensively both as a herb and as a food crop.