Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) is one of the oldest known cultivated crops. It has been a highly valuable resource for thousands of years; first as a clothing and food dye, then as a cheap alternative to saffron, and now a cooking oil and vital ingredient in skin and hair care products. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Safflower. https://www.kew.org/plants/safflower)
