cardoon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cardoon
• Globe Artichoke
• Scotch thistle
• Scottish thistle
• Spanish artichoke
• artichoke
• artichoke thistle
• spiny artichoke
• Wild Cardoon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carduus cardunculus
• Cynara scolymus subsp. cardunculus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Asterales and is a prominent member of the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cynara.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central regions, the species can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it is documented to grow within the borders of Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, its range extends across the Middle European landscapes of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynara cardunculus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 2200 m AMSL. In terms of its preferred environment, the plant is frequently cultivated in southern regions where it thrives in fertile soils. Furthermore, the species possesses biological defense mechanisms, as indicated by its capacity for defense.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cultivated in the south on fertile soils.

Life history

The life history of Cynara cardunculus is characterized by a flexible reproductive strategy, exhibiting a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial plant depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. In terms of its morphological growth patterns and survival strategies, the species displays distinct life forms; it can function as a hemicryptophyte, protecting its perennating buds at the soil surface, but it also frequently exhibits the characteristics of a therophyte, completing its life cycle through seasonal growth patterns.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cynara cardunculus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial, independent plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is strictly self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. It lacks any epiphytic or parasitic tendencies, maintaining a purely terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in size, with a minimum height of 0.2 m, a mean height of approximately 1.2 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.2 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cynara cardunculus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The vegetative architecture is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring large, complex structures with a pinnatipartite leaf form. These leaves exhibit significant morphological variation in size, with a mean leaf length of 50 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 80 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 25 cm to a maximum of 50 cm, maintaining a mean width of 42.5 cm. This substantial leaf surface area supports the plant's energetic requirements through its specialized photosynthetic mechanisms.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

pinnatipartite

Leaf length max:

80 cm

Leaf length mean:

50 cm

Leaf width max:

50 cm

Leaf width mean:

42.5 cm

Leaf width min:

25 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynara cardunculus is characterized by a flowering cycle that typically begins in May and concludes in February, though the timing can be variable. The plant produces striking blue flowers, which range in width from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are indehiscent and exhibit dimensions ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm in length and 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm in width, with mean measurements of 0.75 cm in length and 0.375 cm in width. The seeds contained within are relatively uniform in size, maintaining a consistent length and width of approximately 7.5 mm and 4 mm, respectively. The seed mass varies, with a minimum of 0.0224 g, a mean of 0.038329167 g, and a maximum of 0.06859 g. Dispersal of the seeds is primarily anemochorous, relying on wind to transport the reproductive units to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower width max:

6 cm

Flower width min:

4 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.375 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Seed length mean:

7.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.06859 g

Seed mass mean:

0.038329167 g

Seed mass min:

0.0224 g

Seed width mean:

4 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cynara cardunculus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Cynara cardunculus has 102 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include naringenin, quercetin, 1,3-di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, 1,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,5-di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid.

naringenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

1,3-di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

1,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

1,5-di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

1-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3,5-Di-O-caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

4-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cynara cardunculus has 605 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cynara cardunculus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include liver diseases.

Most Reported Uses