| Noun | 1. | Cynara cardunculus - southern European plant having spiny leaves and purple flowers cultivated for its edible leafstalks and roots cardoon - only parts eaten are roots and especially stalks (blanched and used as celery); related to artichokes Cynara, genus Cynara - artichoke; cardoon vegetable - any of various herbaceous plants cultivated for an edible part such as the fruit or the root of the beet or the leaf of spinach or the seeds of bean plants or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower |