Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Asterales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (10/20/20):
Silybum marianum
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Blessed Milk-thistle at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Silybum marianum
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Mariana mariana
COMMON NAME:
Blessed Milk-thistle, Blessed-thistle, Milk-thistle
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_mama27_001_lvd
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Bruce A. Sorrie bas_silybum_marianum1
November Juan Fernandez Is. Chile
Leaf blades pinnately lobed and spinescent on and near the margins, per Manual of the Southeastern Flora (JK Small, 1933).
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Bruce A. Sorrie bas_silybum_marianum1c
November Juan Fernandez Is. Chile
Tall thistle-like herbs, the stem not winged, per Manual of the Southeastern Flora (JK Small, 1933).
)
Bruce A. Sorrie bas_silybum_marianum1d
November Juan Fernandez Is. Chile
Leaves green with white mottles, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
)
Bruce A. Sorrie bas_silybum_marianum2
November Juan Fernandez Is. Chile
Bracts conspicuous, spiny-ciliate with broad bases and firm spine-armed tips, per Manual of the Southeastern Flora (JK Small, 1933).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (10/20/20):
Silybum marianum
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Silybum marianum
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Mariana mariana
3835
Forb
Annual/Biennial
Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Mediterranean Europe
Click here to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Northeast
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Leaf margins spiny
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
Basal leaves have stout petiole-like bases; stem leaves auriculate-clasping.
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Disc: Pinkish/ Purplish
Rays: Absent
Bisexual
Inferior ovary
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer
Achene
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!