Cynara cardunculus L.

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Cynara

Catalan common name: Card d'herba. Card de formatjar. Card soler. Carxofera borda. Herba-col.

Spanish common name: Alcaucil. Cardo de comer. Cardo lechero.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: The artichoke thistle develops a large rosette of greatly divided, greyish leaves and with spikes along its margin. When it flowers a stem grows which can reach more than one metre and a half above ground. At the top of these we find the large capitula, with bluish flowers, and armed with big spikes. It can be easily differentiated from the globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) because it does not have such divided leaves, and has no spikes either on the leaves or on the capitula.