ScienceAugust 16, 2026
safflower
SAF-low-er
Definition
A yellow-flowered thistle-like plant, long cultivated for its seeds which produce edible oil and, in this research, a specific milk protein.
Etymology
Derived from the Arabic word 'asfar' meaning 'yellow,' referring to the plant's colorful blooms, and the Middle English 'flour,' eventually becoming 'safflower' in late 16th-century English.
In the news
In this article, researchers used the safflower plant as a host to manufacture dairy protein, noting that it is a drought-tolerant crop that can be processed like milk.
Milk from seeds: Israeli scientists produce key dairy protein from safflower plant
Read the full article ↗The Times of Israel