Cynara cardunculus, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 248

5. C. cardunculus L. , Sp. Pl. 827 (1753).

Stems 20-100 cm, lanate. Leaves up to 50 x 35 cm, subcoriaceous, bright green and shortly tomentose above, white-tomentose beneath; segments ovate to linear-lanceolate, with rigid, yellow spines 15-35 mm at apex and clustered at base; lower leaves petiolate, the uppermost sessile. Involucre 45-60 x 40-55 mm, ovoid-globose; involucral bracts ovate to elliptical, gradually or abruptly narrowed into an erecto-patent spine 10-50 x 2-6 mm, glaucescent or purplish. Corolla blue, lilac or whitish. Achenes 6-8 x 3-4 mm, shiny, brown-spotted; pappus 25-40 mm. 2л = 34. Stony or waste places and dry grassland, mainly on clay soils. S. & W. parts of Mediterranean region and S. Portugal; occasionally cultivated elsewhere for the leaves which are blanched and eaten as a vegetable (cardoon). BI Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Lu Sa Si.