Cynara

(sin'a-rah.) (Bot.) A gen. of plants, O. Asteraceæ, of which many of the species are prickly troublesome weeds, and only two are useful. The Artichoke, C. scolymus, is a hardy perennial, a native of Barbary, and somewhat resembles a large thistle. The leaves are numerous, ample, pinnatifid, somewhat spiny, from three to four feet long, and covered with an ash-colored cottony down. The flower-stems grow erect, and attain the height of from four to six feet. They are each terminated by a large globular head of imbricated oval spiny scales of a purplish-green color, which envelop a ma of flowers in the centre. These flower-heads in an immature state contain the parts that are eatable; which comprise the fleshy receptacle usually called the bottom, freed from the bristles and seed-down, commonly called the choke, and the thick lower part of the imbricated scales or leaves of the involucre. Artichokes are not so much in request with us as they are in Europe, and chiefly in France, where they are largely cultivated, and, by various modes of cooking, are made to form favorite dishes. The Cardoon or Char do on, C. cardunculus, very much resembles the artichoke. In many parts of Europe it is regarded as a wholesome esculent, which in the hands of a skilful cook forms an excellent dish. The parts which are used are the stalks of the inner leaves, rendered white, crisp, and tender by blanching. These stalks are either stewed, or form an ingredient in soups and salads during autumn and winter. The flowers have the property of coagulating milk, for which purpose they are frequently used by the French after being gathered and dried in the shade. [s. 258]