Objective: To investigate inflorescence size on flower and seed quality of Carthami Flos for providing a reference for its standardized cultivation. Method: Sampling survey method was adopted to establish level of inflorescence size specifications of Carthami Flos in Henan

HPLC was employed to determine the content of hydroxysafflor yellow A in Carthami Flos with different grades of inflorescence

GC was used to determine the content of linoleic acid in seed of Carthami Flos with different grades of inflorescence. Result: Contents of hydroxysafflor yellow A in Carthami Flos with grade of I

Ⅱ

Ⅲ

Ⅳ were 2.90

2.85

2.97

2.87 mg·g-1

these four data were no significant difference.Percentage of inflorescence with grade of I

Ⅱ

Ⅲ

Ⅳ were 19.32%

37.16%

21.16%

16.36%.Inflorescence size had significant effects on thousand-seed weight

shell-kernel ratio

oil yield and the content of linoleic acid.The larger of inflorescence size had a higher thousand-seed weight and shell-kernel ratio

but oil yield was relatively low. Conclusion: Improving proportion of large inflorescence can get a better quality of flower and seed of Carthami Flos in production

inflorescence size do not have significant effect on the content of hydroxysafflor yellow A in Carthami Flos.