Carthamus tinctorius

Species category

Agricultural, Flower

Common name

safflower

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

AcheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.

Shape

ObovateObovate:
Inverted egg shaped with apical end the broadest.

Size

  • Length: 7 mm
  • Width: 3 mm
  • Thickness: 2 mm

Color

White with light yellow ridges

Texture

Smooth

Other structures

Four yellow longitudinal ridges; lateral scar.

Identification notes

AchenesAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.
are white, smooth, glossy; four longitudinal ridges often forming four bumps near the apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
, ridges sometimes light yellow. Scar lateral, along ridge, slightly depressed. Style deciduous, style base round. PappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
of several rows of narrow scales, deciduous.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Carthamus tinctorius L.

 Carthamus tinctorius.  White achenes with yellow ridges. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Carthamus tinctorius. White achenes with yellow ridges. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
 Carthamus tinctorius.  Achenes with a pappus of several rows of narrow scales. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Carthamus tinctorius. Achenes with a pappus of several rows of narrow scales. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
 Carthamus tinctorius . White achenes.
Carthamus tinctorius. White achenes.