The safflower is scientifically named as Carthamus tinctorius L. belonging to the family Compositae. Safflower is cultivated mainly in California and Arizona, but has been propagated successfully in each State west of the 100th meridian. The acreage differs from year to year based on the demand for safflower oil that is taken from the crushed seed. The detail structure of the safflower seed can be clearly observed by means of microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. The oil is mixed in paints as well as in margarine and other human foods. In 1963, highest acreage of approximately three hundred one thousand acres was planted. Yield of seed for every acre on irrigated soils has changed from two thousand five hundred to four thousand pounds for every acre, on dry land soils, from five hundred to two thousand five hundred pounds.
Safflower is oftentimes sown as a substitute of barley. Even though safflower is a little bit pricey to generate, the identical culture and collecting equipment can be utilized on each. When cultivated in cotton-generating regions, the cotton oil mills handle the seed. The remains after the oil is taken away is utilized for livestock feed.
Safflower just like the other relative plants such as artichoke, thistles and star thistles, has spine apex leaves that cause connection with the obnoxious plant. It is an erect annual, two to six feet in height, having coarse stem and lots of branches, each one of them ends in a yellow or orange flower head and occasionally in white to red flower head, which can be vividly viewed through microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. It has a flower head having diameter of half-inch to one and a half inches. It may be grown in rows eighteen to forty inches at a distance, drilled or spread in the field with two to six plants for every square foot. The seeds mature and are collected on one hundred twenty to one hundred and fifty subsequent to its planting.
A researcher has uncovered a thin-hull mutant that generated seeds with approximately ten percent additional oil than earlier cultivars. The florets in this variety have suspended anther dehiscence, which allows the plant acting as a male-sterile line and gives ways for generating hybrid safflower, which can be observed better via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope.
Under the microscope like the stereo binocular microscope, the spiny leaves and flowering heads of safflower plant can be clearly seen. The various stages of safflower growth can also be monitored through microscopy.
There may be fifteen to one hundred and fifty flower heads on a plant, every head enveloped in layers of spined apex bracts as observed under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope. The head that ends the prime axis of the plant flowers first, then flowering follows downward with those flower heads on the lowest branches unlocking last. On a single plant, flowering may continue from ten to forty days.
There can be twenty to one hundred florets in a head as examined via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. Those florets on the exterior portion open first and unlocking continue centripetally for three to five days. Inside the floret, the style is enveloped by five fused anthers connected at the base by short filaments as examined by means of microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. The floret starts to lengthen by sunrise on the day it unlocks. Anther dehiscence typically takes place inside the fused anther tube right after sunrise while the style is lengthening. If dehiscence transpires prior to the lengthening of the style, the stigma propels through a mass of pollen, turns covered with pollen, and ends up self-fertilized. If dehiscence takes place subsequent to lengthening of the style in order that the stigma traverses the anther tube in the absence of being pollen covered, self-sterility ensues. Such flowers should be visited by bees that either carry pollen from other pollen-covered stigmas or transport pollen from inside the apex of the anther tube to the stigma. The thin-hull cultivar has this suspended dehiscence and is thus purposefully male-sterile.
Nectar is excreted at the bottom of the filaments and is greatly alluring to bees, even though the value of honey it generates is lower. The bee gathers this nectar at the bottom of the anther tube from the external side instead of going through the tube. Safflower pollen is also greatly alluring to bees and is deemed to be a very good source by beekeeping standards. Under the microscope, the filaments and adjoining areas of the flowers can be magnified and clearly observed.