Artichoke

( Cynăra Scolўmus ), sometimes called 'the Globe Artichoke', a well-known plant of the nat. ord. Compos itæ, somewhat resembling a thistle, with large divided prickly leaves. The erect flower-stem terminates in a large round head of numerous imbricated oval spiny scales which surround the flowers. The fleshy bases of the scales with the large receptacle are the parts that are eaten. Artichokes were introduced into England early in the sixteenth century. The Jerusalem artichoke (a corruption of the It. girasole , a sunflower), or Helianthus tuberōsus , is a species of sunflower, whose roots are used like potatoes; it was introduced into England in the early part of the seventeenth century.