False saffron

Bastard (false) saffron, from safflower (dyer s saffron)... 

Carthamus. Safflower African saffron thistle saffron American saffron false saffron bastard saffron Dyer s saffron. Florets of Carthamus tinclorius L. Compositae. Habit. Levant Orient cultivated extensively in Europe and America. Constit. Carthamin, safflor yellow. 

The plant (false saffron, dyers saffron) has been grown since antiquity as an oil seed crop and for its flowers from which the dye (carthamin and safflower yellow) is produced. The plant is a spiny erect herb resembling the thistle (30-100 cm high). There are two distinct varieties, one very spiny, the other moderate or spineless. The seeds resemble sunflower seed but are approximately half the size oil content is 36-43% when dehulled. The hull can form a large proportion of the seed (35-65%). The higher-oil-containing... 

Syn. Dyer s Saffton False Saffron Carthamus tinctorius L. 

Saffron genus Colchicum (Colchicum L.) produces colchicines. Metacolchicine is in Sandersonia aurantiaca and other colchicines in meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.). Stereoidal alkaloids in the Liliaceae family are found in the Hellebore genus (Veratrum Bemch.). Jervine, cyclo-pamine (Figure 1.18), cycloposine, protoveratrine A, and protoveratrine B yield Veratrum album. Veramadines A and B are reported to be found in Veratratum mackii var. japonicum. O-Acetyljervine has been reported in the false hellebore (Veratrum lobelianum Bemch.). Steroidal alkaloids... 

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