Flora of North America species comparison

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Cynara cardunculus subsp. flavescens
Photo is of parent taxon

cardoon
Leaves

armed with spines 1–3 cm.
Middle

phyllaries acute to short-acuminate at apex with point 10–21 mm and spine tip 2–5(–6) mm, distal margins with prominent yellowish margins 0.5–1+ mm.

Cynara cardunculus subsp. flavescens
Phenology Flowering spring–summer (Apr–Jul).
Habitat Disturbed areas in grasslands, coastal scrub, chaparral, riparian habitats, fallow fields, roadsides
Elevation 0–500 m (0–1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; w Mediterranean region; Macaronesia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Artichoke thistle is a noxious weed that tends to spread aggressively in overgrazed range lands and may invade undisturbed natural vegetation as well. Dense infestations form pure stands, sometimes several hec-tares in extent. The long, needlelike spines deter herbivores and the large rosettes suppress the growth of other plants. Vigorous root sprouts can develop from fragments of the deep taproots left in the soil by cultivation or mechanical clearing.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 19, p. 90.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Cardueae > Cynara > Cynara cardunculus
Sibling taxa
C. cardunculus subsp. cardunculus
Name authority Wiklund: Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 109: 120, fig. 15A–D, F–J. (1992)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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