Cynara cardunculus
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 827 (1753).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Artichoke thistle, cardoon, Scotch thistle.
Description:
Perennial herb to 1.5 m high; stems branched, striate, sparsely cobwebby; basal leaves forming a rosette, to 75 cm long, to 30 cm wide, lanceolate, pinnatipartite with pinnatifid segments and a small spine on each ultimate lobe, green and pubescent above, white-tomentose below; cauline leaves similar, decreasing in size up the stem.
Capitula erect on peduncles 1-6 cm long, 4.5-6 cm diam.; involucral bracts lanceolate, glabrous, often purplish, tapering into erect to spreading spines; corolla blue, lilac or white.
Achenes 6-8 mm long, shiny, brown-spotted; pappus 2.5-4 cm long, whitish.
Published illustration:
Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 71.
Distribution:
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A weed of roadsides and pastures.
All States except the N.T. Native to the Mediterranean region.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — Feb.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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