Editing Cynara

{{Short description|Genus of large, edible thistles}}
{{About|the plant genus|other uses}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Cynara cardunculus Prague 2011 3.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Cynara cardunculus]]''
| display_parents = 3
| taxon = Cynara
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=c/>
| synonyms =
* ''Arcyna'' <small>Wiklund</small>
* ''Bourgaea'' <small>Coss.</small>
* ''Cynaropsis'' <small>Kuntze</small>
}}

'''''Cynara''''' is a [[genus]] of [[thistle]]-like [[perennial plant]]s in the family [[Asteraceae]]. They are [[native plant|native]] to the [[Mediterranean]] region, the [[Middle East]], northwestern [[Africa]], and the [[Canary Islands]]. The genus name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''kynara'', which means "artichoke".<ref name=fna>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=108971 ''Cynara''.] Flora of North America.</ref>

Among the better known species in this genus include:

* ''[[Cynara cardunculus]]'' is the cardoon, artichoke thistle, or wild artichoke. The stems of cultivated varieties are used as food around the Mediterranean. It is also the source of a coagulant used as an alternative to [[rennet]] in the manufacture of [[cheese]], with the advantage that the cheese is then fully suitable for [[vegetarian]]s; many southern [[Europe]]an cheeses are traditionally made in this way. The more commonly eaten globe artichoke is usually considered to be an ancient [[cultigen]] of this plant. Cardoon is an [[invasive species]] in [[United States]], [[Argentina]], and [[Australia]].
* ''[[Cynara humilis]]'' is a wild thistle of southern Europe and north [[Africa]] which can be used in cheesemaking like ''C. cardunculus''.<ref>Vioque, M., et al. (2000). [http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf990326v Chemical and microbiological characteristics of ewes' milk cheese manufactured with extracts from flowers of ''Cynara cardunculus'' and ''Cynara humilis'' as coagulants.] ''Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry'' 48(2), 451-56.</ref>
* ''[[Cynara scolymus]]'' (syn. ''C. cardunculus'' var. ''scolymus'') is the common edible [[globe artichoke]]. It differs from ''C. cardunculus'' in that the leaf lobes and inner bracts of involucre are less spiny.
* ''[[Cynara cornigera]]'' leaves and flowers are eaten raw or cooked in [[Crete]].<ref>Kyriazopoulos, A. P., et al. [http://www.egf2011.at/files/pubs/505_kyriazopoulos.pdf Edible plant species in rangeland ecosystems of Crete, Greece.]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In: ''Grassland farming and land management systems in mountainous regions''. Proceedings of the 16th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Gumpenstein, Austria, 29–31 August 2011. pp. 505-07.</ref>

''Cynara'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of many [[lepidoptera]]ns, such as the [[Platyptilia carduidactyla|artichoke plume moth]] (''Platyptilia carduidactyla''), a pest of artichoke crops.<ref>[http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r6300111.html Artichoke Plume Moth, ''Platyptilia carduidactyla''.] Integrated Pest Management. University of California. Updated 2009.</ref>

''C. cardunculus ''is being developed as a new [[bioenergy]] crop in the Mediterranean because of its high [[biomass]] and seed oil yields even under harsh conditions.<ref>Fernández, J., et al. (2006). Industrial applications of ''Cynara cardunculus'' L. for energy and other uses. ''Industrial Crops and Products'' 24, 222–29.</ref><ref>The seed characteristics, seed composition, and allometric relationships predicting seed yields in the biomass crop ''Cynara cardunculus''. Global Change Biology Bioenergy.  2-3, 113-129.</ref>

==Species==
The genus consists of the following species:<ref name=c>[https://archive.today/20141106174748/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/Default.aspx?Page=AdvNameSearch Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ]</ref><ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Compositae/Cynara/ ''Cynara''.] The Plant List.</ref>

* ''[[Cynara algarbiensis]]'' - [[Spain]], [[Portugal]]
* ''[[Cynara auranitica]]'' - [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], [[Lebanon]], [[Sirya]], [[Palestine]], [[Jordan]], [[Turkey]]
* ''[[Cynara baetica]]'' - [[Spain]], [[Morocco]]
* ''[[Cynara cardunculus]]'' - cardoon - [[Mediterranean]]; naturalized in other regions
* ''[[Cynara cornigera]]'' -  [[Greece]], [[Libya]], [[Cyprus]], [[Egypt]], [[Libya]]
* ''[[Cynara cyrenaica]]'' - [[Crete]], [[Libya]], [[Cyprus]]
* ''[[Cynara humilis]]'' - [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Algeria]], [[Morocco]], [[Canary Islands]]
* ''[[Cynara makrisii]]''<ref name=hand>Hand, R. and G. Hadjikyriakou. (2009). [http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/bgbm/05119618/v39n1/s9.pdf?expires=1373522070&id=74827386&titleid=75004866&accname=Guest+User&checksum=7019C3E1AC29B779128BF5A3878AB412 ''Cynara makrisii'' (Asteraceae, Cardueae), a new artichoke species in Cyprus.] ''Willdenowia'' 39(1) 77-81.</ref>
* ''[[Cynara scolymus]]'' (syn. ''C. cardunculus'' var. ''scolymus'') - [[artichoke]] - area of origins unclear but probably [[Mediterranean]]; widely cultivated  and naturalized
* ''[[Cynara syriaca]]'' - [[Cyprus]], [[Iran]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]]
* ''[[Cynara tournefortii]]'' - [[Morocco]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikispecies-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090120184945/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3280 GRIN Species Records of ''Cynara''.] Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

{{Taxonbar|from=Q19070}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cardueae]]
[[Category:Asteraceae genera]]