Asteraceae

Cynara cardunculus

Common Names: Wild artichoke

Plant Form: Upright perennial rosette herb. Size: Up to 2 m tall. Stem: Single thick ribbed stem grows from rosette, covered in hairs, and branched higher up. Leaves: Deeply divided, greyish green with woolly undersides and yellowish spines 0.5-2 cm long on tips and edges. Flowers: Large single round flowers on tips of thick stalks, with a head of purple florets at peak flowering. Fruit and Seeds: 6-8 mm long with large feathery hairs, which fall off. Habitat: Pastures, grasslands, woodlands, roadsides and other disturbed areas. Distinguishing Features: Artichoke flowerheads and leaf shape. Impacts: Outcompetes crops and native vegetation.