Silybum marianum

(Linnaeus) Gaertner

Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 378. 1791.

Common names: Blessed milkthistle chardon Marie
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Carduus marianus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 823. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 164.

Stems glabrous or slightly tomentose. Leaves: basal wing-petioled, blades 15–60+ cm, margins coarsely lobed; cauline leaves clasping, progressively smaller and less divided, bases spiny, coiled, auriculate. Phyllary appendages spreading, ovate, 1–4 cm including long-tapered spine tips. Corollas 26–35 mm; tubes 13–25 mm, throats campanulate, 2–3 mm, lobes 5–9 mm. Cypselae brown and black spotted, 6–8 mm; pappus-scales 15–20 mm. 2n = 34.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Jun (west), Jul–Sep (north).
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, waste areas, sometimes cultivated
Elevation: 0–800 m

Distribution

V19-171-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Alta., B.C., N.B., N.S., Ont., Que., Sask., Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Conn., Ind., La., Mich., Miss., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., s Europe (Mediterranean region)

Discussion

Silybum marianum is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, a minor vegetable, or as a medicinal herb. Young shoots can be boiled and eaten like cabbage and young leaves can be added to salads. The seeds can be used as a coffee substitute. Extracts of S. marianum are used as an herbal treatment for liver ailments.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"fine" is not a number.

... more about "Silybum marianum"
short-tailed +
rounded;acute +
scarious +
racemiform +, paniculiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
David J. Keil +
(Linnaeus) Gaertner +
auriculate +
Carduus marianus +
compound +  and simple +
15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br /> (60 cm600 mm <br />0.6 m <br />) +
10-nerved or 20-nerved +  and rugose +
Blessed milkthistle +  and chardon Marie +
actinomorphic +
pink +  and purple +
2.6 cm26 mm <br />0.026 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
brown and black spotted +
compressed +  and ovoid +
fertile +  and bisexual +
Alta. +, B.C. +, N.B. +, N.S. +, Ont. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Ala. +, Ariz. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Conn. +, Ind. +, La. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Nev. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Mex. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Vt. +, Va. +, Wash. +, W.Va. +  and s Europe (Mediterranean region) +
0–800 m +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
Roadsides, pastures, waste areas, sometimes cultivated +
indeterminate +
tomentose +, puberulent +  and glabrous +
each +  and sessile +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
ovoid;spheric +
sessile +  and petiolate +
cauline +  and basal +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
deltate +, usually narrowly triangular +  and more or less linear +
2-carpellate +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
persistent +
Flowering Feb–Jun (west), Jul–Sep (north). +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
papillate +  and smooth +
distinct +  and fused +
cylindric +
Fruct. Sem. Pl. +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
flat;convex +
subulate +
exalbuminous +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
long-tapered +
tomentose +  and glabrous +
appendaged +  and truncate +
dilated +  and swollen +
enlarged +
Compositae +
Silybum marianum +
species +
campanulate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
expanded +  and slender +
1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
biennial +  and annual +
15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br /> (300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br />) +
tree +, vine +, shrub +  and subshrub +