Carthamus pinnatus

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A thistle like plant that grows from year to year. The leaves occur in a ring. They are blue-green and divided into leaflets along the stalk. They have spiny tips. There is a single flower-head without a stem. The bracts on the outside have spines at the tip. The small flowers are bluish or mauve.

There are about 20-29 Carduncellus species. They occur in the Mediterranean region.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Australia, Europe, Italy, Mediterranean, North Africa, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia

How it is used for food

The above ground parts are boiled with batter or with eggs. The flower head is boiled in salty water or fried.

Edible parts

Flowers, basal ring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Carduncellu, Grain jday

Synonyms

Carduncellus acaulis C. Presl; Carduncellus pinnatus (Desf.) DC.; Carduncellus pinnatus var. acaulos (C. Presl) Guss; and others