synthetic dyes

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on March 6, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

Safflower is an herbaceous thistle-like annual plant. The plant has many branches with long sharp spines on its leaves. It grows 30-150 cm tall with globular flowerheads. Brilliant yellow, red or orange flowers bloom in the month of July. Each branch of the plant typically has 1-5 flowerheads, which contain about 15-20 seeds per head. Safflower plants have strong taproot with which it can thrive in dry climates. The plant is susceptible to frost injury.

Traditionally, Safflower plants were grown for its seeds that were used in food coloring and flavoring. Besides, it was also used in medicines and for making red and yellow dyes. However, due to cheaper varieties of synthetic dyes, it is no more used for making dyes. All over the world, the plant is extensively cultivated for extracting vegetable oil from its seeds. Latest research has also reported that genetically modified safflower can be used to make insulin. Safflower oil is colorless, odorless and nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. Safflower oil is used as cooking oil, salad dressing and for the production of margarine.

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

Pictures of Flowers Mignonette Pictures and Mignonette Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 23, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Mignonette Pictures and Mignonette Kind

Mignonette is a genus of fragrant herbaceous plants native to the Mediterranean region, southwest Asia, Canary Islands, Iberia and northwestern India. The Genus includes annuals, biennials and perennial plants that grow 40-130 cm tall.

Leaves of Mignonette form a basal rosette at the ground level and then move the stem in spiral arrangement. Leaves can be entire, toothed or pinnate. White, yellow, orange or green flowers grow on a slender spike. Fruits are a small dry capsule containing several seeds. The plants should not be moved after sowing, as it does not like to be transplanted. Flowers are extremely fragrant but they are not very attractive. Therefore, it is mainly grown for the sweet ambrosia scent of the flowers. Mignonette is often used in flower arrangements, perfumes and potpourris. During Roman era, the plant was used as sedative and in the treatments for bruises. Besides, the plant was also used for extracting yellow dye from its roots. However, due to cheaper synthetic dyes, nowadays, it is rarely used for yellow dyes.