SAFFLOWER
safflower, false saffron, Carthamus tinctorius
(noun) thistlelike Eurasian plant widely grown for its red or orange flower heads and seeds that yield a valuable oil
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
safflower (plural safflowers)
A cultivated thistle-like plant, Carthamus tinctorius, family Asteraceae, now grown mainly for its oil.
Synonyms
• bastard saffron
Source: Wiktionary
Saf"flow`er, n. Etym: [F. safeur, safior, for safran, influenced by
fleur flower. See Saffron, and Flower.]
1. (Bot.)
Definition: An annual composite plant (Carthamus tinctorius), the flowers
of which are used as a dyestuff and in making rouge; bastard, or
false, saffron.
2. The died flowers of the Carthamus tinctorius.
3. A dyestuff from these flowers. See Safranin (b). Oil of safflower,
a purgative oil expressed from the seeds of the safflower.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition