Taxonomic Studies on Some Species of Cynara L. In Egypt

Abstract

The present study was performed on three species of the genus Cynara L.in Egypt. These species are; C. cardunculus L., C. cornigera Lindley (= C. sibthorpiana Boiss. & Heldr.) and C. scolymus L. (syn. C. cardunculus var. scolymus) .The aim of this study was to distinguish the similarity and dissimilarity among these species. To achieve this, a number of taxonomic evidences reflect the relationships among these species were considerd. These evidences were; the morphological description of the whole plant, macro and micromorphological description survey on the leaf and seed surfaces of the studied species. Then two proposed botanical keys were designed.