Distaff thistles | |
---|---|
Saffron thistle, Carthamus lanatus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Carduoideae |
Tribe: | Cardueae |
Subtribe: | Centaureinae |
Genus: | Carthamus L. |
Type species | |
Carthamus tinctorius | |
Synonyms[3] | |
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The genus Carthamus, the distaff thistles, includes plants in the family Asteraceae.[4] The group is native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.[3][5] The flower has been used since ancient times in the Philippines, which it has been called kasubha by the Tagalog people.[6]
The best known species is the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius).