The
cardoon (
Cynara cardunculus), also called the
artichoke thistle,
cardone,
cardoni,
carduni, or
cardi, is a
thistle-like plant in the
sunflower family. It is a naturally occurring species that is sometimes considered to include the
globe artichoke, and has many
cultivated forms. It is
native to the western and central
Mediterranean region, where it was domesticated in ancient times.