Safflower oil lowers blood cholesterol levels and is used to treat heart diseases. The flowers have been the source of yellow and red dyes, largely replaced by synthetics, but still used in rouge. In Iran, the oil is used as a salve for sprains and rheumatism. Sturdy taproot penetrating to 2.5 m. Germplasm Many cvs have been developed differing in flower color, degree of spininess, head size, oil content, resistance to disease and ease of harvest.
Most common varieties have yellow or orange flowers, but red and white flowered varieties are known.
Many other cvs have seed with lower hull percentage and higher oil and protein content. Dart' has tolerance for Phytophthora, Puccinia and Verticillium. It is cold tolerant during early growth. Reported from the Central Asian and Near Eastern Center of Diversity, safflower or cvs thereof is reported to tolerate bacteria, disease, drought, frost, fungus, high pH, phage, salt, sand, rust, virus, wind, and wild. Distribution Believed to have originated in southern Asia and is known to have been cultivated in China, India, Persia and Egypt almost from prehistoric times.