Množina: artichokes

ETYM Italian articiocco, perh. corrupted from the same word as carciofo; cf. older spellings archiciocco, archicioffo, carciocco, and Spanish alcachofa, Portu. alcachofra; prob. from Arabic al-harshaf, al-kharshûf.
1. Mediterranean thistlelike plant widely cultivated for its large edible flower head; SYN. globe artichoke, artichoke plant, Cynara scolymus.
2. A thistle-like flower head with edible fleshy leaves and heart; SYN. globe artichoke.
Either of two plants of the composite or sunflower family Compositae. The common or globe artichoke Cynara scolymus is native to the Mediterranean, and is a form of thistle. It is tall, with purplish blue flowers; the bracts of the unopened flower are eaten. The Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus is a sunflower, native to North America. It has edible tubers, and its common name is a corruption of the Italian for sunflower, girasole.