safflower

From Middle French safleur; originally from Arabic أَصْفَر (ʔaṣfar, “yellow”) but influenced by safran (“saffron”) and fleur (“flower”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈsæfˌlaʊə(ɹ)/

safflower (plural safflowers)

1. A cultivated thistle-like plant, Carthamus tinctorius, family Asteraceae, now grown mainly for its oil.
   • 2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, page 195:

     Safflower is unusual: if you add alkalis to the dye broth it is yellow; with acids it goes a beautiful crimson pink which is the colour of the original ‘red’ tape once tied around legal documents in England […] .

• bastard saffron