Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Cut & Sifted

Safflower is an annual broadleaf plant in the aster family that produces rounded yellow or reddish-orange flower heads and rosettes of branched leaves, like a thistle. It is one of the oldest known crops with a history of cultivation dating to ancient Egypt.

Because the herb, especially the flower, is sometimes used in cooking as a substitute for saffron, safflower is also known as bastard saffron.