According to Mrs. M. Grieve, _A Modern Herbal_  (Dover reprint of a 1931
publication), there are a few varieties:

Artichoke, Jerusalem.  Synonym.  Sunflower Artichoke (Helianthus
tuberosus) native to the North American plains.
Cultivation:  In any odd bit of ground, shaded or open, that is unsuitable
for other vegetables....

Artichoke, Globe.  (Cynara Scolymus)
Cultivation:  It is grown either from seed, sown in March, in a deep,
moist, rich soil which may be greatly aided by wood-ashes and seaweed (for
it is partial to saline manures, its home being the sanddy shores of
Northern Africa)....

Artichoke, Chinese  (Stachys Sieboldii)

This plant has nothing to do with either of the well-known Artichokes,
both of which belong to the Compositae family, whereas this belongs to the
Mint family.

Artichoke, Cardoon.  (Scolyumus Cardunculus)

The Cardoon is by some botanists regarded as merely a variety of this
plant, but by others as a distinct species. ...  It is more cultivated on
the Continent than here.

Cultivation:  It requires so much room that it is little grown in small
gardens, and as a crop can hardly pay for the enormous extent of ground
that it claims.

There are about 4 more pages of details, but this may answer your
question.

Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Lab

http://www.teleport.com/~tcl/index.html


On Sun, 26 May 1996, Heidi Anderson wrote:

> I'm sorry to post this question on the list, but I can't seem to find any
> information on the subject.  Can anyone tell me where artichokes come
> from.  Supposedly they are related to daisys, but where do they grow,
> what type of climate, anything.  My library has a very limited number of
> books none of which have any information.
> If anyone could give me any information on these plants, or any ideas of
> where else I can look for them, another list, etc.  it would be greatly
> appreciated.  Thanks much
>
>
> Heidi Anderson
> [log in to unmask]
>