Sans.: — Kusumbha, kamalottara, kúshumbha.
Vern. : — Kusum, kâsumba, kar (the seed), barre (Hind) ; Kusum, kusam phul, kajîrah, darhua (the oil), kuthi (thorny), murdi or mundo (thornless variety) (Beng.) ; Galâp machû, (Manipur) ; Kûsam, kûrtam, kushumbha, ma, sufir, karar (khar, polian — seed), (Pb.) ; Barre, kar, (United Prov.) ; (Bundi, Raj) ; Kusumba, kurdai, (Bomb.) ; Kusumbo (kabri = the seed), (Guj.) ; Kurdi, kavarhi, kasdi, sadhi (oil plant), kardai, (Mar.) ; Kusumba, (Cutch) ; Powari-jo-bij, kardai, kurtum (seed), khoinbo (the plant), (Sind) ; Khardi, (oil), kasar (thorny), kusum (smooth variety), (C. P.) ; Karad, (Dec.); Sendurgam, kushumba, kushumba-virai, sendurkun, (Tam) ; Agnisikha, kushumba-vittu-lu, (Tel) ; Kusanbe (or kusambi), kusumba, (Kan).
Eng. :—The Safflower.
Habitat : — Cultivated throughout India.
Thistle-like herbs, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves entire and unarmed, or spinulose serrate. Outer Involucre-bracts ovate-oblong, constricted above the base green-spinous, or not. Inner Involucre-bracts ovate-oblong, acute. Flowers orange-red. Achenes (often deformed) obovoid, 4-angled, truncate at the top, with 4 bosses ; pappus absent.
Parts used : — The seed, oil and flowers.
Uses : —The Sanskrit writers describe the seeds as purgative, and mention a medicated oil, which is prepared from the plant for external application in rheumatism and paralysis. Mahomedan writers consider the seeds as laxative, having the power to remove phlegmatic and adjust humors from the system. (Dyinock).
" The powdered seeds made into a poultice, are used to allay inflammation of the womb after childbirth. The oil is used as a liniment in rheumatism " (Surg.-Maj. Calthrop).
The oil is used as a dressing for bad ulcers (Ainslie).
In the Punjab seeds considered to be diuretic and tonic (Stewart).
"In large doses, Carthamus is said to be a laxative ; and, administered in warm infusion, diaphoretic. It is used as a substitute for saffron in measles, scarlatina, and other exanthematous diseases to promote the eruption" (U. S. Dispensary).
