Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
About Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is a herb used in the Western Herbalism, Mediterranean and Celtic & Norse Herbalism traditions to help with Liver Support, Detox, Diabetes, and Cholesterol, among 3 other conditions it addresses. The seeds are the part traditionally used, taken internally.
Botanical background
Silybum marianum has other common names include cardus marianus, milk thistle, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle. This species is an 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.
Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist