Ningxia Safflower

Ningxia Safflower

　　Safflower, also known as Carthamus tinctorius, is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It consists of dried tubular flowers approximately 1.5 cm long, orange-red in color. The flower tubes are slender, with five narrow-linear lobes at the tip, each measuring 5–7 mm in length. There are five yellow stamens whose anthers are fused into a tube that rises above the lobes, with a stigma protruding from the center. It has a distinctive fragrance and a slightly bitter taste. The best quality safflower has long petals, a bright red color, and a soft texture. It is mainly produced in Henan, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and other regions. It promotes blood circulation and menstruation, removes blood stasis, and relieves pain. It is classified as a blood-invigorating and menstruation-regulating herb.