Species
Cynara cardunculus
Etymology
Cynara: From the Greek kyon 'dog', referring to the spines on the involucre suggesting a dog's teeth
Common Name(s)
cardoon
Authority
Cynara cardunculus L.
Family
Asteraceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites
Features
The flowers of the cardoon are thistle like with globular heads, from which mauve-purple tufts into a flat-topped inflorescence (there is also a white flowered form of C. cardunculus). (Ermert and Clapp 1998)
Flowering
November, December, January, February, March
Flower Colours
Violet / Purple,White
Fruiting
February, March
Year Naturalised
1897
Origin
Mediterranean
Reproduction
Seed
Seed
The long seeds are brown or black.
Dispersal
The seeds are large and relatively heavy, thereby making them unsuitable for spreading by wind, although they can blow along the ground. (Ermert and Clapp 1998)
This page last updated on 25 Mar 2010