Artichoke

The artichoke, or Cynara scolymus, is a plant with budding inflorescences. About 2,000 years ago, the artichoke spread from the Arab countries to the Mediterranean region. Today, the plant is cultivated on a large scale, especially in Europe and the USA.
The inner petals and the flower base of the artichoke are edible and are considered a special delicacy. The artichoke can be eaten squeezed as a juice, cooked as a vegetable or dried as a powder.
In Greek mythology, Zeus fell in love with an attractive nymph named Cynara, but she rejected him. In anger, Zeus turned her into a prickly artichoke. Hence the derivation of the scientific name. In 2003, the artichoke was voted medicinal plant of the year.