Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual herbaceous, highly branched plant that can reach 0.3-1.5 m in height. It has an extensive root system with a strong fleshy taproot reaching 2-3 m in depth and thin lateral roots exploring the first 30 cm of the soil (Ecoport, 2010; Oyen et al., 2007). The stems are glabrous, greenish white, cylindrical and woody near the base. The leaves are sessile, arranged in a rosette from the base, 4-20 cm long × 1-5 cm broad, glossy dark green; the upper leaves bear many sharp spines. Each stem bears a terminal inflorescence. It is a globular capitulum, 1.3-3.5 cm in diameter, containing 20-80 tubular orange-red flowers becoming dark red during flowering. Each flower produces one fruit. Safflower fruits are achenes, usually called "seeds", surrounded by a thick fibrous hull. They are smooth, shiny and angular, about 6-9 mm long, white or brownish and white with grey, brown or black stripes. They generally contain 33-60% hull and 40-67% kernel (Baümler et al., 2006; Mündel et al., 2004; Ecoport, 2010; Oyen et al., 2007).

A multipurpose crop, safflower was originally grown for its flowers that were used in making red and yellow dyes for clothing and food preparation, but it is now primarily grown for its oil, which is used for food and industrial purposes. Safflower is a minor crop with a world production of about 650 Mt in 2009 (FAO, 2010). There are linoleic and oleic types of safflower varieties. The oil in linoleic varieties contains about 70-80% linoleic acid and is used for edible oil products such as salad oils and soft margarines. The oil of oleic varieties contains about 80% oleic acid and serves as a heat-stable cooking oil, or as a drying or semi-drying oil for paints and other surface coatings (GRDC, 2010; Oelke et al., 1992). Other industrial uses include soap and "roghan wax" for the batik industry (Dajue et al., 1996), pharmaceutical products, infant formulas, cosmetics and biodiesel (GRDC, 2010).

Several safflower seed products can be used as animal feeds: the seeds themselves, the by-product of oil extraction (safflower meal) and the hulls (Oelke et al., 1992). Safflower young leaves may be eaten as a vegetable, and safflower foliage and stems can be used as green fodder, hay or silage (Ecoport, 2010; Oyen et al., 2007). It is potentially valuable as a fodder plant in semi-arid and arid areas (Landau et al., 2005; Dajue et al., 1996).