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Safflower

Carthamus tinctorius L.
Colors Obtained
Yellow, Bright yellow, Red, Khaki, Golden Yellow, Greenish Yellow
Dye Ingredients
Carthamin, corocetin
Historical Data
The florets of Safflower; have been used as a source of red dye for many centuries, mainly for silk, secondly for cotton. Safflower is a very ancient plant native to a large area from central Asia through Middle East to the Upper Nile River into Ethiopia . It has been cultivated around the Mediterranean for many centuries and has become naturalized there in many parts of south and central Europe and North Africa . The bright yellow linen mummy binding from the 12th Dynasty Tomb of the Two Brothers (about 2000B.C.) was analyzed and reported to have been dyed with safflower. Also it is mentioned that the Egyptian tombs dating back to other periods have contained linen clothes dyed with safflower. The florets contain a useless yellow colourant which is washed out with water. The red colourant carthamin remains. Safflower can yield a beautiful pinkish hue on a textile.