Silybum marianum
Milk Thistle
a biennial member of the Silybum genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Silybum
- Life cycle
- biennial
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
When grown on nitrogen rich soils, especially those that have been fed with chemical fertilizers, this plant can concentrate nitrates in the leaves. Nitrates are implicated in stomach cancers.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - raw or cooked[1][10][17][20][9]. A mild flavour and somewhat mucilaginous texture[K]. When boiled, the roots resemble salsify (Tragopogon hispanicus)[1][17][4]. Leaves - raw or cooked[1][17][19][20][22][4]. The very sharp leaf-spines must be removed first[18][9], which is quite a fiddly operation[K]. The leaves are quite thick and have a mild flavour when young, at this time they are quite an acceptable ingredient of mixed salads, though they can become bitter in hot dry weather[K]. When cooked they make an acceptable spinach substitute[14]. It is possible to have leaves available all year round from successional sowings[K]. Flower buds - cooked[1][14]. A globe artichoke substitute[5][9], they are used before the flowers open. The flavour is mild and acceptable, but the buds are quite small and even more fiddly to use than globe artichokes[K]. Stems - raw or cooked[17][2]. They are best peeled and can be soaked to reduce the bitterness[19][9]. Palatable and nutritious[17][4], they can be used like asparagus or rhubarb[5] or added to salads. They are best used in spring when they are young[3]. A good quality oil is obtained from the seeds[17]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[12][18][21][9].
- Product or use
- Coffee
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Stem
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Blessed thistle has a long history of use in the West as a remedy for depression and liver problems[16]. Recent research has confirmed that it has a remarkable ability to protect the liver from damage resulting from alcoholic and other types of poisoning[16]. The whole plant is astringent, bitter, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, hepatic, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[17][12][6][7][14]. It is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning[14]. The plant is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[14]. Silymarin, an extract from the seed, acts on the membranes of the liver cells preventing the entry of virus toxins and other toxic compounds and thus preventing damage to the cells[15]. It also dramatically improves liver regeneration in hepatitis, cirrhosis, mushroom poisoning and other diseases of the liver[13][14][16]. German research suggests that silybin (a flavonoid component of the seed) is clinically useful in the treatment of severe poisoning by Amanita mushrooms[13]. Seed extracts are produced commercially in Europe[13]. Regeneration of the liver is particularly important in the treatment of cancer since this disease is always characterized by a severely compromised and often partially destroyed liver[K]. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from equal parts of the root and the seed with its hulls still attached[17]. It is used in the treatment of liver and abdominal disorders[23].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Bitter
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Hepatic
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Stimulant
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A good green manure plant, producing a lot of bulk for incorporation into the soil[K].
- Product or use
- Oil
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe, N. Africa and W. Asia. Naturalized in Britain.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - if sown in situ during March or April, the plant will usually flower in the summer and complete its life cycle in one growing season[K]. The seed can also be sown from May to August when the plant will normally wait until the following year to flower and thus behave as a biennial[K]. The best edible roots should be produced from a May/June sowing, whilst sowing the seed in the spring as well as the summer should ensure a supply of edible leaves all year round[K].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any well-drained fertile garden soil[1][11]. Prefers a calcareous soil[5] and a sunny position[11]. Hardy to about -15°c[11]. The blessed thistle is a very ornamental plant that was formerly cultivated as a vegetable crop[1][21][14]. Young plants are prone to damage from snails and slugs[11]. Plants will often self sow freely[K].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2