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| |image_caption=Milk thistle | | |image_caption=Milk thistle |
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− | '''''Silybum marianum''''' is a [[milk thistle]], is an [[annual plant|annual]] or [[biennual]] plant of the [[Asteraceae]] family. This fairly typical [[thistle]] has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to Asia, it is now found throughout the world. The medicinal parts of the plant are the ripe seeds. | + | '''''Silybum marianum''''' is a [[milk thistle]], is an [[annual plant|annual]] or [[biennial]] plant of the [[Asteraceae]] family. This fairly typical [[thistle]] has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to Asia, it is now found throughout the world. The medicinal parts of the plant are the ripe seeds. |
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| [[Common name]]s for this species include '''blessed milk thistle''', '''Marian Thistle''', '''Mary Thistle''', '''St Mary's Thistle''', '''Mediterranean Milk Thistle''' and '''Variegated Thistle'''. | | [[Common name]]s for this species include '''blessed milk thistle''', '''Marian Thistle''', '''Mary Thistle''', '''St Mary's Thistle''', '''Mediterranean Milk Thistle''' and '''Variegated Thistle'''. |
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− | It grows 40 to 100 cm tall. The stem is grooved and more or less cottony. | + | It grows 40 to 100 cm tall. The stem is grooved and more or less cottony. |
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| The leaves are oblong to lanceolate. They are either wavy loved or pinnated, have spiny edges. They are hairless, shiny green, with milk white veins. | | The leaves are oblong to lanceolate. They are either wavy loved or pinnated, have spiny edges. They are hairless, shiny green, with milk white veins. |
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− | The flower heads are 4 to 5 cm long and wide, of red-purple colour. They flower from June to August. | + | The flower heads are 4 to 5 cm long and wide, of red-purple colour. They flower from June to August. |
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| The [[bract]]s are hairless, with triangular, spine-edged appendages, tipped with a stout yellow spine. | | The [[bract]]s are hairless, with triangular, spine-edged appendages, tipped with a stout yellow spine. |