artichoke

[In Sw. ärtstocka; Dan. artis chok; Dut. artisjok; Ger. art is choke; Fr. arti chaut; Sp. artichoka; Ital. articiocco, carciofo, carciofano, or corciojulo; O. Ital. archiciocca.] Cynara Scolymus, a plant belonging to the order Asteraceæ, or Composites, the sub-order Tubuliferæ, and the section Carduineæ, the same to which the thistles belong. It considerably resembles a huge thistle. The receptacle on which the florets are situated, and the fleshy bases of the scales are eaten. The modern Arabs consider the root as aperient, and the gum, which they term kunkirzeed, as an emetic. Artichokes were introduced into England early in the sixteenth century. " Artichokes grew sometimes only in the isle of Sicily, and since my remembrance they were so dainty in England, that usually they were sold for crow us apiece.."- Moffatt : Health's Improvement . The Jerusalem Artichoke , in Ger. erdartischoke, is not from Jerusalem, and is not an artichoke. It is a sunflower ( Helianthus tuberosus). The word Jerusalem arose from a mispronunciation or corruption of the Italian girasole, meaning turner to the sun, which is the most obvious peculiarity of the Helianthus genus. The tuberous roots of this species are in general use as vegetables. [HELIANTHUS, SUNFLOWER.]