Cynara L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 248

126. Cynara L. 1

Perennial herbs; stems erect, striate to ribbed, sometimes absent. Leaves in a basal rosette or alternate, usually deeply divided and with spiny segments. Capitula solitary or in a sparingly branched, corymbose cyme. Involucre ovoid to globose; involucral bracts imbricate, glabrous, the outer and middle with a stout spine or an ovate to triangular appendage at the apex. Receptacle fleshy, the scales setaceous. Florets all hermaphrodite. Corolla purplish, blue or white, tubular, 5-fid; style longexserted. Achenes obpyramidal or obovoid-cylindrical, glabrous; pappus of many rows of plumose, dirty white hairs connate at the base.

1 Leaf-segments unarmed or mucronulate; involucral bracts with large, cuspidate, apical appendage 6. scolymus 1 Leaf-segments spiny; involucral bracts with apical spine or spiny appendage

2 Stems absent; apical spine of middle involucral bracts not

more than 7 mm, slender 7. tournefortii 2 Stems present; apical spine of middle involucral bracts at

least 10 mm, stout

3 Cauline leaves 1- to 2-pinnatisect, with linear, revolute segments; achenes winged on angles 1. humilis 3 Cauline leaves 1- to 2-pinnatifid, with lanceolate to oblong,

flat segments; achenes not winged

4 Leaves up to 50 x 35 cm, with spines 15-35 mm, clustered

at base of each segment; achenes 6-8 x 3-4 cm

5. cardunculus 4 Leaves up to 40x32 cm, with spines 2-20 mm, not in clusters; achenes 3-5 x 2-3 mm

5 Involucre 40-50 mm, subglobose; middle involucral bracts with cochleariform appendages, abruptly contracted

into a spine 20-50 mm 4. cornigera 5 Involucre 15-35 mm, ovoid; middle involucral bracts with ovate to ovate-lanceolate appendages, tapering into a spine 10-30 mm

6 Leaves sparsely and shortly tomentose to lanate, glabrescent, with a distinct reticulum of veins beneath; corolla white 2. alba 6 Leaves white-tomentose beneath, with indistinct reticu­

lum of veins; corolla purplish-blue 3. algarbiensis