Cornflower-thistle
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It is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Stem is with grey-green branch color reaches to 10-25cm in height. Leaves are alternate, entire, dissected once, dentate or serrate, lobed. The flowers are 1.5 cm to 3 cm in diameter and its color is intense blue or deep blue, with connate petals, hermaphrodite, and flowering periods are March, April, May. The fruits are Cypselae.
Ecology: It grows in heavy soils, it is glycophyte in terms of salt resistance, and this plant follows the Mediterranean botanical zone.
Uses: The flowers are edible and used for cooking decoration, for example to add color to salads. The blue pigment is Protocyanin, it is an anthocyanin that is responsible for the red color of roses but in cornflower it gives a blue color. It is used as an ingredient in herbal teas and many other drinks and edible. In herbalism, a decoction of cornflower is effective in treating conjunctivitis, and as a wash for tired eyes where it is still used in French Herbal medicine as a remedy for the eyes.
Cool Facts: The native people consider this flower as the sign of love if the blue cornflower turned fade then it is considered as the negative sign if not then it is fairly a positive sign for lovers. The blue cornflower was one of the national symbols of Germany
Distributions: It is native to Europe. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds. In Palestine, it grows in The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, central highland mountains.
Other names: Syrian Cornflower, Blue bottle.
IUCN red list status: not evaluated.
Local status: Indigenous, Least concern.