CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS. 
OFFICINAL CARTHAMUS. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENESIA. POLYGAMIA JEQUALIS. 
Natural Order. 
CYNAROCEPH ALAJ . 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
Egypt- 
18 inches. 
June, July. 
Annual. 
in 1751. 
No. 162. 
Carthamus, from the Greek kathairo, in allu- 
sion to the cathartic properties of its seeds and 
flowers. Tinctorius, from the Latin, tinctura, a dye 
or colour ; which term has been adopted in allusion 
to the colouring principles of its flowers. 
This plant has long been cultivated in various 
parts of the world for the value of its flowers, which 
are sent to this country, as an article of commerce, 
under the name of safflower. 
About the year 1680, the culture of it was tried 
in England, when twenty-five acres of land, in the 
Gloucestershire part of the vale of Evesham, were 
planted with it ; and though no profit was realized 
by this speculation, enough was effected to show 
that it might then have been cultivated with con- 
siderable advantage. 
Safflower is prepared by cutting off the florets 
of the Carthamus tinctorius, above the calyx, as 
soon as they open, when quite free from moisture ; 
and, if possible, before any rain has fallen on the 
expanded flowers. They are then dried on a kiln, 
and laid up for use. 
Safflower is used for various purposes of dying ; 
