Envoy at 12:05, 21 June 2007

2007-06-21T12:05:54Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Globe Artichoke
| image = Artichokes.jpg
| image_caption = Globe Artichoke buds ready for cooking
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Cynara]]''
| species = '''''C. scolymus'''''
| binomial = ''Cynara scolymus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

The '''Globe Artichoke''' (''Cynara scolymus'') is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[thistle]] originating in [[southern Europe]] around the [[Mediterranean]]. It grows to 1.5-2 m tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery glaucous-green [[leaf|leaves]] 50–80 cm long. The [[flower]]s develop in a large head from an edible [[bud]] about 8–15 cm diameter with numerous triangular scales; the individual florets are purple. The edible portion of the buds consists primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the [[involucral bract]]s and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of inedible immature florets in the center of the bud are called the "choke."

==Cultivation==
[[Image:2005artichoke.PNG|thumb|left|Artichoke output in 2005]]
The Globe Artichoke is very closely related to the [[Cardoon]] (''Cynara cardunculus''), and possibly derived from it in cultivation; the controversy whether it occurs wild or is a [[Cultivar Group]] of the Cardoon has not yet been resolved. It is likewise uncertain whether references to the Globe Artichoke in classical [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] authors are really references to the Cardoon. It is, however, certain that the Globe Artichoke as we know it today was cultivated in the eastern [[Mediterranean]] before the [[12th century]], and subsequently introduced to the rest of Europe.

Globe Artichokes were first cultivated at [[Naples]] around the middle of the [[15th century]], and are said to have been introduced to France by [[Catherine de Medici]], in the [[16th century]]. The [[Netherlands|Dutch]] introduced artichokes to England, where they were growing in [[Henry VIII]]'s garden at [[Newhall]] in [[1530]]. They were introduced to the [[United States]] in the [[19th century]], to [[Louisiana]] by French immigrants and to [[California]] by [[Spain|Spanish]] immigrants. The name appears to have originated with the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''ardi shauk'' ("ground-thorn"), through the [[Italian language|Italian]], articiocco.
[[Image:P5090048.jpg|thumb|175px|right|An artichoke flower.]]
Today, the Globe Artichoke is cultivated mainly in [[France]], [[Italy]], and [[Spain]]. In the [[United States]], California provides nearly 100 percent of the local crop, and approximately 80 percent of that is grown in [[Monterey County]]; there, [[Castroville, California|Castroville]] proclaims itself to be "The Artichoke Center of the World". The [[cultivar]] 'Green Globe' is virtually the only kind grown commercially in the U.S.
[[Image:P8220094.JPG|left|thumb|Artichoke field.]]
Globe Artichokes are [[perennial plant|perennial]]s, and produce the edible flower only during the second and subsequent year. Commercial culture is limited to warm areas in USDA [[Hardiness zone|hardiness zone 7]] and above. It requires good soil, regular watering and feeding plus frost protection in winter. Rooted suckers can be planted each year so that mature specimens can be disposed of after a few years, as each individual plant only lives a few years. The peak season for artichoke harvesting is the spring, but they continue to be harvested throughout the summer, with another peak period in mid autumn.

When harvesting, if they are cut from the ground so as to leave an inch or two of stem, artichokes possess good keeping qualities, frequently remaining quite fresh for two weeks or longer under average retail conditions.

The recently introduced hybrid cultivar 'Imperial Star' has been bred to produce in the first year without such measures. An even newer cultivar, 'Northern Star', is said to be able to overwinter in more northerly climates, and readily survive sub-zero temperature
s.

Apart from food use, the Globe Artichoke is also an attractive plant for its bright floral display, sometimes grown in herbaceous borders for its bold foliage and large purple flowerheads.

==Uses==
[[Image:Artichokes_being_cooked.jpg|right|thumb|Globe Artichokes being cooked]]
=== Cooking ===
Whole Globe Artichokes are prepared for cooking by removing all but 5–100 mm or so of the stem, and (optionally) cutting away about a quarter of each scale with scissors. This removes the thorns that can interfere with handling the leaves when eating. Then, the artichoke is boiled or steamed until tender, about 15–45 minutes. If boiling, salt can be added to the water, if desired. It may be preferable not to cover the pot while the artichokes are boiled, so that the acids will boil out into the air. Covered artichokes can turn brown due to the acids and [[chlorophyll]] oxidation.

===Tea===
Artichokes can also be made into an [[herbal tea]]; artichoke tea is produced as a commercial product in the [[Dalat]] region of [[Vietnam]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

===Liquor===
Artichoke is the primary flavor of the Italian liquor [[Cynar]].

==Ethnomedical Uses==
*Dried or fresh leaves and/or stems of ''Cynara'' are used as a [[choleretic]] (to increase bile production), to treat gallstones, and as a [[tonic]] for [[convalescence]].

[[Cynarin]] is the principal active constituent in ''Cynara''.

==References==
*{{Grocers}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Cynara scolymus}}
{{Cookbook|Artichoke}}
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Cynara+scolymus ''Cynara scolymus''] - Plants for a Future database entry
* [http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/ArtichokeHistory.htm History of the Artichoke] - plus miscellaneous facts
* [http://www.cliffordawright.com/history/artichoke.html Developed from Cardoon?] ''(this article is currently—as of 30 March 2007—unavailable, but will supposedly return)''
* [http://vric.ucdavis.edu/selectnewcrop.artichoke.htm Artichokes] - page of links to artichoke articles at UC Davis Vegetable Research & Information Center
* [http://hort-devel-nwrec.hort.oregonstate.edu/artichgl.html Globe Artichoke] - Commercial Vegetable Production Guide, Oregon State University
* [http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe.php?id=111&title=Grilled+Artichokes Grilled Artichokes] - a photo-illustrated guide to cooking and eating artichokes
* [http://www.artichokes.org/recipes.html Artichoke recipes] - from the Artichoke Advisory Board of California
* [http://www.foodsdatabase.com/LinkedLabel.aspx?FoodId=20271 Nutrition facts]
* [http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000262how_to_cook_and_eat_an_artichoke.php How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke] - step-by-step instructions with photos

[[Category:Inflorescence vegetables]]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]

Globe artichoke - Revision history

Envoy at 12:05, 21 June 2007