Safflower

Normally grown for its oil, Dried Safflower can be used in recipes in place of saffron as a much less expensive substitute (it is also known as "false saffron"). Bird lovers can also add the seed to their feeders, as the taste is unpalatable to squirrels and other small rodents.

You can buy bulk Safflower Oil to use as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to linseed oil for use in paints as well.

Safflower is among the oldest domesticated crops, dating back to Egypt's Twelfth Dynasty 3,800 - 4,000 years ago. Today, most of the world's safflower is grown in the U.S., Mexico and India.

Warning: Not to be used during pregnancy. Not for use in patients with bleeding disorders, hemorrhagic diseases or peptic ulcers.