MICROEVOLUTION OF SCOLYMUS HISPANICUS L. (COMPOSITAE) IN SOUTH ITALY: FROM GATHERING OF WILD PLANTS TO SOME ATTEMPTS OF CULTIVATION

This is a short note about the rare cases of cultivation of Scolymus hispanicus L. in southern Italy. Traditionally all consumed plants of this species (most of all the leaf ribs) come from wild collections and are sold on local markets at high prices. In recent years some iformation about the agronomic management of this species and the phenotypical Variation of wild and cultivated material has been collected. S. hispanicus might become an attractive new vegetable for many Mediterranean areas where it is already well known.