Cynara
Cynara is a
genus in the Family
Asteraceae of about 10
species of thistle-like perennials originally from the
Mediterranean, northwestern
Africa, and the
Canary Islands.
- Cynara cardunculus is the Artichoke thistle or Wild artichoke, in some places called the Cardoon and used as a food. The edible Artichoke may be an ancient cultigen of this plant. As an introduced species in California, it is a major pest.
- Cynara scolymus is the edible Artichoke or Globe artichoke. It differs from C. cardunculus in that the leaf lobes and inner bracts of involucre are less spiny
References
- Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 p. ISBN 0 521 34060 8.
- Robbins, W.W., M. K. Bellue, and W. S. Ball. 1970. Weeds of California. State of California, Dept. of Agriculture. 547 p.