Taxonomy

Cynara cardunculus L., Sp. Pl. 2:827. 1753

Common synonyms

Carduus cardunculus (L.) Baill.; Carduus cynara E.H.L.Krause; Carduus scolymus Baill.; Cnicus communis Lam.; Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC.; Cynara cardunculus var. cardunculus; Cynara cardunculus var. elata Cavara; Cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima Lowe; Cynara cardunculus var. inermis DC.; Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris (Lam.) Fiori; Cynara corsica Viv.; Cynara ferox Ten.; Cynara ferox Ten. ex Steud.; Cynara horrida Aiton; Cynara hortensis Mill.; Cynara spinosissima J.Presl & C.Presl; Cynara sylvestris Lam.

Common name

Cardoon, globe artichoke

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 4.8-7 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), rarely widest in the middle, +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section round (terete), basal scar (carpopodium) inconspicuous and undifferentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw or black, smooth (except at cellular level), with no hairs (glabrous), thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs absent.

Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 20-35 mm long, in several rows, pappus elements numerous, falling off as a whole, the individual bristles feathery (plumose) along most of length, clearly wider at base, white / translucent.

Ecology

Large perennial herb, seeds wind-dispersed. Warm-temperate to subtropical, especially drier areas. Cultivated for edible stems (cardoon) or edible buds (globe artichoke), escaped and weedy on pastures, croplands, open woodlands, various disturbed areas and along roads.