Artichoke

n. plant with an edible flower head

The Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is a perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows to 1.5-2 m tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery glaucous-green leaves 50–80 cm long. The flowers 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 bracts and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of inedible immature florets in the center of the bud are called the "choke."
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Noun
1. Mediterranean thistlelike plant widely cultivated for its large edible flower head
(synonym) globe artichoke, artichoke plant, Cynara scolymus
(hypernym) vegetable
(member-holonym) Cynara, genus Cynara
(part-meronym) globe artichoke
2. a thistle-like flower head with edible fleshy leaves and heart
(synonym) globe artichoke
(hypernym) vegetable, veggie
(part-holonym) globe artichoke, artichoke plant, Cynara scolymus
(part-meronym) artichoke heart

(n.)
The Cynara scolymus, a plant somewhat resembling a thistle, with a dilated, imbricated, and prickly involucre. The head (to which the name is also applied) is composed of numerous oval scales, inclosing the florets, sitting on a broad receptacle, which, with the fleshy base of the scales, is much esteemed as an article of food.
  

(n.)
See Jerusalem artichoke.
  

Amount per 100g:
• Calories.......................50
• Total Fat......................0 g
• Saturated Fat.................0 g
• Cholesterol..................0 mg
• Sodium........................331 mg
• Total Carbohydrate......11 g
• Dietary Fiber...................5 g
• Protein.........................3 g Vitamin A  177 IU   Vitamin C  10 mg
 Calcium    45 mg    Iron         1 mg