Cynara L.

Large perennial herbs, usually spiny. Hairs cobwebby. Lvs in a basal rosette and alternate on stems, sessile or with winged petiole, deeply 1–2-pinnatifid. Capitula large, homogamous, globose or broadly ovoid, solitary or in lax cymes. Involucral bracts in several series, linear to ovate, imbricate, glabrous, the outer and middle with a suberect to recurved, ovate to triangular to spinous appendage. Receptacle convex, very fleshy, with setaceous scales. Florets ☿, all tubular. Corolla glabrous, 5-lobed, lilac, blue or white. Anthers subacute at apex, caudate at base; filaments papillate. Style branches linear, erect, appressed. Achenes obovoid, smooth or winged; achene insertion basal; pappus hairs in several rows, stiff, yellowish, plumose, united at base into a ring.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]