Question

Find out the plant name whose seeds yield safflower and the petals obtained from flowers are used to obtain an orange dye:
A. Calendula officinalis
B. Helianthus annus
C. Rauwolfia serpentine
D. Carthamus tinctorius

Answer 1

Hint: In 2018, the global production of safflower seeds was 627,653 tonnes, produced by Kazakhstan with 34% of the world total.
Other important producers were the United States and India, with 26% of world production combined

Complete answer: Given, a plant whose seeds yield safflower upon the germination and the petals of these flowers are commonly used in the production of orange dye.
The plant name is Carthamus tinctorius (also called Kusum) and belongs to the family Compositae also named Asteraceae. The safflower is used in the oil production that helps in preventing the “hardening of arteries”.

Additional information: Calendula officinalis is used in the extraction of natural oil from its flower.
Helianthus annus is commonly known as “Sunflower” and belongs to the Asteraceae family.
Rauwolfia serpentine (Indian snakeroot) belongs to the milkweed family that is Apocynaceae. It is widely used in the treatment of snake bites. The roots of these plants are of high economic importance.
Carthamus tinctorius is a natural source of the orange-red pigment that is carthamin and it is used in the preparation of dye. Moreover, safflower seed oil is used as moisturizing additives. The oil extraction procedure has its history dated to the Spanish colonies for using the vegetable oil extracted from safflower seeds in place of saffron which has high production value.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D. Carthamus tinctorius.

Note: Flower of Calendula officinalis is used in the fever, muscle spasms, skin healing, antiseptic, etc. Seeds of Helianthus annus is used in oil manufacturing, dye preparation, wound treatment, splenitis, and many more.