Carlina acanthifolia All. subsp. cynara (Pourr. ex Duby) Rouy

Spice Cross section Flowers In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Carlina

Catalan common name: Cardamella. Cardina. Carlina cínara.

Spanish common name: Carlina. Flor del sol.

Province distribution: Barcelona. Girona. Lleida.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal. Symbolic uses.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Alpine grasslands. Meso-xerophyll mountain fields. Mesophyll mountainous grasslands.

Characteristics: Mesophilic pastures, alpine meadows, forest clearings, moors etc. A perennial herb, rosulate and acaule- Has large leaves (10 -30 cm in length), pinnatisect, with a spiny margin, downy on the reverse. The capitulum is very large, up to 10 cm in diameter. The external involucral bracts are similar to the leaves and the inner leaves are a vivid green. The achens have a feathery pappus of 2-2.5 cm.