Milk thistle - Silybum marianum  
  
Milk thistle - Silybum marianum  
  
Other COMMON NAMES  
Marian thistle  
  
Various other COMMON NAMES  
  
LATIN NAME  
Silybum marianum  
  
LATIN NAME  
  
FAMILY  
Asteraceae  
  
FAMILY  
  
Part USED  
Seed  
  
Portion USED  
  
DESCRIPTION  
An biennial or annual, Silybum marianum grows as many as six feet tall, by having an erect stem. Alternate leaves are grayish eco-friendly, spiny, and white-veined. When broken, they release a milky sap. Blooms are reddish purple, ridged, and sharply spined. Fruits are brown, spotted, and shiny, with a white tuft of hair.  
  
DESCRIPTION  
  
HABITAT  
This plant is a native of Europe. It's also grown in North America, South America, and Australia.  
  
HABITAT  
  
FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL USES  
Based on middle ages legend, the white markings on dairy thistle leaves happened to be the result of a drop of the Virgin Mary's dairy. Consequently, the plant became known as our ladies thistle, See for yourself - https://www.timesofisrael.com - or marianum, from which the common name "milk thistle" is derived. Thistles, briers, and thorns are talked about often times in the Bible and are frequently used interchangeably with one another. In the Book of Isaiah "brier" is employed to imply troublesome men.  
  
FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL USES  
  
Medicinal USES