Tournefort's gundelia, Akkoub
Gundelia tournefortii

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A thistle like herb which keeps growing from year to year. It is leafy and can have some hairs. The leaves are narrowly oval and divided into lobes along the stalk. The lower leaves have a stalk and the upper leaves do not have a stalk. The leaf blade often runs down the stem. The leaves have easy to see veins. The midrib is often purple and there are small yellow spines around the edge. The flower heads can be white, yellow, pink, purple or red. They are gathered into spiny heads. They are 4-5 cm across.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows along the coast. It can grow in dry and salty soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Central Asia, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The young plant and the flower buds and stem are eaten as a vegetable. They are also used in pickles. Roots and stems can be peeled and eaten raw. They are also cooked in stews. Stems are cooked with chickpeas. The buds are boiled and sauteed in butter. The seeds are dried and ground and used as a coffee substitute.

The flower buds are sold in markets. It is an important food source in Anatolia in Turkey.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flower - heads, stems, vegetable, roots

How it is grown

The fruiting heads break of and spread the seeds.

Its other names

Local names

A'kkub, Accoub, Akoob, Arkue, Cardi, Ergude, Gerenk, Hacub, Hersev, Kangr, Ka'oob, Kenger, Kengerotu, Kenger zer, Kereng, Kinger, Kingr, Knr, Silifa, Tumbleweed, Tumble thistle

Synonyms

Gundelia glabra Mill.; Gundelia rosea M.Hossain & Al-Taey; Gundelia tenuisecta (Boiss.) Freyn & Sint.; Gundelia tournefortii var. tenuisecta Boiss.;