Theophrastus and the name of Artichoke.

Contents

• Basic Botanical Info of Artichoke.
• Artichoke Plant Description.
• What Is Artichoke?.
• Main Actions and Suggested health benefits of artichoke.
• Artichoke has a long history.
• Chemistry,Pharmacology of Origin Plant.
• What is Artichoke Leaf Extract?.
• How Artichoke acts as a Herbal Remedy?.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:Brief
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:1.Effects on the gastrointestinal system.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:2.Artichoke and Lipid Lowering Effects.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:3.High CholesterolDrugs and Side Effects.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:4.Artichoke as a Herbal Medicine.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:5.Cardiovascular health.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:6.Cardiovascular protection.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:7.Hepato-protection.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:8.Dyspepsia.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:9.Liver protection.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:10.Digestion.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:11.Further effects.
• Artichoke Extract Health Benefits:12.Other applications.
• Artichoke plant Research Update.
• Suggestions and Administrations of Artichoke.
• Research Update:Artichoke Leaf.

Artichoke Plant Description.:

Description: Large spiny perennial to 2.5 m tall. Artichoke thistle primarily invades disturbed grasslands, especially those in coastal regions. Dense colonies displace desirable vegetation and wildlife and can exclude livestock. It is a progenitor of the commercially cultivated, spineless globe artichoke [Cynara scolymus L.]. Some taxonomists consider globe artichoke and artichoke thistle to be the same species, C. cardunculus L. The two species readily hybridize, and a few spiny wild types often develop among globe artichoke seedlings. See Comparison of spiny-leaved thistles. Artichoke thistle was introduced from the Mediterranean region as a vegetable and ornamental. The artichoke fly (Terellia fuscicornis) was accidentally introduced into California, but is not a CDFA approved biocontrol agent. Preliminary studies suggest that some native thistles (Cirsium spp.) may be vulnerable to attack. At publication time, the fly impact on artichoke thistle populations is unknown. Larvae feed only on mature flower heads, thus commercial artichokes are not significantly affected.

 Seedlings: Cotyledons obovate, 3-5 cm long, bases gradually long-tapered, tips rounded, glabrous or with scattered short woolly hairs. First and subsequent few leaves elliptic, ~ 3-20 cm long, tapered to a long stalk, +/- weakly toothed, teeth tipped with a fine yellowish spine ~ 0.5-3 mm long, +/- covered with short white woolly hairs. Seedlings develop a deep taproot during the first year. Rosette leaves often die during the first summer and re-grow when rains commence in fall.

 Mature Plant: Stems erect, thick, branched near the top, ribbed. Basal leaves 1-2-pinnately lobed or divided, often appear +/- compound, up to 2 m long, lobes tipped with stiff, yellowish to pale orange spines 0.5-2 cm long. Upper surfaces loosely and lower surfaces densely covered with white to gray woolly hairs. Stem leaves alternate, resemble basal leaves but smaller and extend down the stem ~ 1-3 cm at the base (decurrent), forming short spiny wings. Cultivated types may lack or have weak spines.

 Roots and Underground Structures: Tapoot thick, fleshy, can penetrate soil to depths up to 2 m. Roots fragments often generate new shoots.

 Flowers: April-July. Heads solitary at stem tips, ovoid to hemispheric, 3-15 cm in diameter, consist of numerous bluish to purple or rarely white disc flowers ~ 5 cm long. Phyllaries ovate, overlapping in several series, tapered to a stout point. Receptacle fleshy, covered with bristles. Insect-pollinated.

 Fruits and Seeds: Achenes conical to cylindrical, slightly compressed to +/- 4-angled, 6-8 mm long, with an attachment scar at the narrow base, glabrous, dark brown to tan, sometimes with black, brown, or dark green longitudinal striations. Pappus bristles feathery (plumose), 2.5-4 cm long, fused into a ring at the base, tan, attached slightly off-center, deciduous.

 Postsenescence Characteristics: Stems typically die after flowering and can remain standing for several months. Old flower heads may persist on the stems.

Reference:

• 1.Cladonia species and Cladonia Stellaris Identification,Economic importance and Phytochemicals,a wonderful thing more than fodder for reindeer.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:25th,Oct.2010.