RESEARCH ARTICLE Ethnobiology and Conservation 2019, 8:5 (12 March 2019) doi:10.15451/ec2019-03-8.05-1-22 ISSN 2238­4782 ethnobioconservation.com “Cardos” of two worlds: Transfer and re­ signification of the uses of thistles from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina J. Esteban Hernández Bermejo1*, Gustavo Delucchi2, Gustavo Charra2, María Lelia Pochettino2,3, Julio Alberto Hurrell2,3* ABSTRACT “Thistles” constitute a group of prickly herbaceous plants included in tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae), but in the popular sense that concept is frequently applied to other species of the same family, as well as to some Dipsacaceae, Bromeliaceae, Apiaceae or Cactaceae. Since antiquity, the cultivation and use of thistles for food and medicinal purposes have been well known in the Mediterranean cultures. The different popular knowledge could allow us to refer to a “thistle culture”. During the exploration of America, many of those species and their associated knowledge were transferred from the Old to the New World. In Argentina, several species of thistles, especially Cynara cardunculus, spread extensively throughout the pampas. From early times, they constituted a source of food and low­quality fuel, and in several cases, they were also employed in popular medicine, with diverse uses, some of which are still in practice. The local importance of some species is mentioned in literature, arts, and gastronomy. In the 20th century, a large production of artichokes from introduced crops that increased local agro­diversity was recorded in Argentina. This contribution summarizes some aspects of the transfer and re­signification of the thistle from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina. Keywords: "Thistle Culture"; Cynara cardunculus; Botanical Knowledge; Ethnobotany 1Departamento de Ingeniería Forestal, Universidad de Córdoba, España; Banco de Germoplasma Vegetal Andaluz, Córdoba, España. 2Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada (LEBA), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. 3 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. * Corresponding author. E­mail address: [email protected], [email protected] INTRODUCTION species of other genera of Asteraceae, like Scolymus and Sonchus (Cichorieae), and The term “thistles” refers to an extensive Xanthium (Heliantheae), as well as to group of prickly herbaceous plants included species of prickly plants of other botanical in the tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae) that families like Dipsacus (Dipsacaceae), generally display thorns on stems, leaves, Eryngium (Apiaceae), Argemone and involucral bracts. Nevertheless, the term (Papaveraceae), Trichocereus (Cactaceae), is also applied in the popular sense to Ononis (Fabaceae), and several 1 Bermejo et al. 2019. “Cardos” of two worlds: Transfer and re­signification of the uses of thistles from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 8:5 Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, traditions of that country as it is a Bromeliaceae, and Zygophyllaceae. conspicuous constituent of local flora both in Cardueae includes 73 genera and about the wild (Gutiérrez 2011; Gutiérrez et al. 2400 species, mainly of Mediterranean origin 2017) and as a culture (Del Rio et al. 2007). (Delucchi and Gutiérrez 2014; Susanna and We have identified a process of “re­ Garcia­Jacas 2007, 2009). Almost 10% of signification” of the uses of that species, i.e., the total Cardueae species is represented in changes in the meaning of the uses of plants the Iberian Peninsula and about 130 species due to modifications in the context of their are endemic, some of them with extinction uses in relation to time and space (Hurrell risk (Moreno et al. 2008). Many species 2014), including loss of knowledge of the naturalized in different world temperate traditions of their origin (food uses in Iberian zones, and various cases became weeds or Peninsula), a partial recovery of those invaders. In Argentinian Flora, 10 genera wisdoms due to immigration (Mediterranean with 24 species are recorded, just one of food traditions), and a possible local which is indigenous: Plectocephalus development in Argentina: thistles as tweediei (Hook. & Arn.) N. Garcia & Susanna alternative resources (medicinal, fuel). The (Gutiérrez et al. 2014). interest of this research is reinforced by Since antiquity, the cultivation and use of today’s expectations of cardoons and thistles for food and medicinal purposes artichokes (crops included in the genetic have been well known in Mediterranean heterogeneity of Cynara cardunculus), which cultures. The ensemble of different popular can be priority objectives of contemporary knowledge could allow us to consider a horticulture, both in southern South America “thistle culture”. From the western and in the western Mediterranean. Mediterranean (especially the Iberian Peninsula) to America, a partial transference of germplasm and associated knowledge MATERIAL AND METHODS took place (Hernández Bermejo and García Sánchez 1998, 2000). Several species We have applied the approach of arrived early in Argentina and were widely historical ethnobotany, including the study of dispersed over the pampa plains (Gutiérrez documents from the past (considered as and Delucchi 2011). At first, cultivated first­hand informants, according to Ochoa thistles were a food source; later, naturalized and Ladio 2011), and ethnobotanical thistles were used as emergency food, techniques (like open­ended and semi­ medicines, and/or low­quality fuel facing the structured interviews to growers and local shortage of woody plants (Correa et al. consumers of thistles, participant 2003; Delucchi et al. 2002; Delucchi and observation of the related activities, and the Charra 2012). review of current literature) to record In this contribution, we explore the present­day uses of thistles in different historical antecedents of the use of thistles in cultural contexts. The same multidisciplinary ancient Mediterranean cultures and compare approach used in previous studies for both that information with different testimonies of the Iberian Peninsula and Argentina has their presence and use in Argentina, with a been applied for research on the past special reference to Cynara cardunculus L., (Correa et al. 2003; Delucchi and Charra a species of a particular relevance in diverse 2012; Delucchi et al. 2002; Hernández 2 Bermejo et al. 2019. “Cardos” of two worlds: Transfer and re­signification of the uses of thistles from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 8:5 Bermejo 1991; Hernández Bermejo and complemented with botanical and García Sánchez 1998, 2000, 2015; ethnobotanical field work. Botanical work Hernández Bermejo and León 1994; included voucher collections deposited in Hernández Bermejo et al. 1991, 2009, 2013 recognized herbaria: Museo de La Plata a, b), based on reviewing historical (LP), Instituto de Botánica Darwinion (SI), documents from different archives, accounts INTA­Castelar (BAB), and identification by from chroniclers, travelers and naturalists, means of morphological features. The correspondence, and also data obtained ethnobotanical research comprised the from literature, arts, gastronomy, gathering of samples placed in LEBA ethnobiological and biological evidences collections (La Plata University), (species distribution, naturalization ways, micrographic analyses to identify fragmented domestication and genetic processes). In material, photographic records, and fifty this context, the data provided by travelers open interviews held with social actors in that visited the Argentinian pampas during urban, suburban, and rural areas. In total, the 16th and 17th centuries have been twenty five people of both sexes and particularly valuable as they describe local between 25 and 70 years of age were landscape (Delucchi and Charra 2012). interviewed. In all cases the informed The current documentation sources consent was obtained. The interviewees checked (all of them published, and were selected for their locally recognized presented in bibliography list) include: knowledge about the uses of thistles, in scientific reports of diverse disciplines, accordance with qualitative methods and ethnographic and anthropological techniques currently employed in contributions, popular knowledge ethnobiology (Albuquerque et al. 2014). inventories, texts on pharmacobotany, agriculture, food plants and popular RESULTS AND DISCUSSION medicine, reports of scientific expeditions, and regional flora published by various "Cardos" in the historical authors, official documents, newspaper documentation of the western articles and advertisements. The search was Mediterranean made following references to thistles or well described thorny species, as well as In Mediterranean cultures, the cultivation geographical descriptions. Several and use of “cardos” for food and medicine documents available mention “cardos”, being were well known and have been their authors of diverse origin and nature: documented in many references since chroniclers, travelers, navigators, traders, antiquity. Some species have food or soldiers, functionaries, and scientists industrial uses, and several are employed in (Correa et al. 2003; Delucchi et al. 2002; popular medicine due to the presence of Delucchi and Charra 2012). Herbaria active compounds such as sesquiterpene specimens and data from their labels were lactones, alkaloids, and bitter principles also revised. In particular, for the concepts (Alonso 2004). Nevertheless, thistles have related to naturalization processes we have become