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Hi guys,

This cultivated variety of artichoke - Cynara cardunculus at Mgarr gave me a lot to think. Should it produce the characteristic deep violet flower before fruiting. The field had 90% of the specimens in its vegetative state, and few specimens as shown here. I was wondering if hence, these are the buds or there is some variety/subsp that produce inconspicuous flowers ? (unlikely option)

I don´t think so. Actually the Globes stay much longer in buds as in the Cardoons. If you do not harvest the Globe they will flower bigger in size as in the Cardoons- that is what I found...

So if I understand well, these are the buds?

Yes, involucral bracts of the inflorescence buds. Edible parts of the bud are the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base (heart) of the bud. The immature flowers (florets) in the center of the bud is the so-called choke which becomes inedible with age.

Yes I understand now, I thought that they were harvested after flowering! Now it makes much more sense.