Variegated artichoke (Silybum marianum, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 378 (1791))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: (L.) Gaertn.

Bibliography: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 378 (1791)

Year: 1791

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Silybum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Medit. to C. Asia and Ethiopia

Description

The Variegated Artichoke, scientifically known as Silybum marianum, is a remarkable plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This plant boasts a striking appearance with its large, spiny, variegated leaves, which are intricately marked with white veins, creating a distinctive and ornamental look.

Renowned for its dual utility in both herbal medicine and culinary applications, Silybum marianum holds a long-standing place in traditional practices. Historically documented in botanical literature as early as 1791, the variegated artichoke has been actively observed across a geographic range that extends from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia and Ethiopia.

Its resilience and adaptability enable it to thrive in diverse climates, making it a versatile species. The medicinal potential of the variegated artichoke has been acknowledged for centuries, particularly its usage in liver detoxification and support. The seeds of this plant are rich in a flavonoid complex known as silymarin, which is reputed for its hepatoprotective properties.

In addition to its health benefits, the variegated artichoke also makes a unique addition to gardens and landscapes, offering not just aesthetic value but also serving as a notable conversation piece due to its medicinal background and striking appearance. Whether for its beauty or its medicinal qualities, Silybum marianum continues to be a plant of significant interest and value in both historical and modern contexts.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig marietidsel, marietidsel
Eng: blessed milk thistle, blessed milk-thistle, blessed milkthistle, bull thistle, gundagai thistle, holy thistle, lady’s thistle, milk thistle, spotted thistle, st. mary’s thistle, variegated artichoke, variegated thistle, blessed thistle, cabbage thistle, our lady’s milk thistle
Spa: caro mariano, cardo de maría, cardo lechero, cardo mariano, cardo-asnal, cardo-mariano
Deu: echte mariendistel, gewöhnliche mariendistel, mariendistel
Lit: tikrasis margainis
Por: cardo-leiteiro, cardo-santo, silibina, silimarina, cardo leiteiro
Fra: chardon marie, chardon argenté, lait de notre dame, silybe de marie, chardon-marie
Est: harilik maarjaohakas
Fin: maarianohdake
Swe: maarianohdake, mariatistel
Nob: mariatistel
Nno: maritistel
Hun: máriatövis
Ces: ostropestřec mariánský
Ara: shawk el-gamal
Lav: īstais m
Nld: mariadistel
Cym: cribau mair, ysgall ddrain gwyn, ysgall mair, ysgallen fair, ysgallen fendigaid, ysgallen fraith, ysgallen wen
Urd: oont katara
En: Variegated artichoke, Variegated thistle, Milk thistle, Bull thistle, Holy thistle, Blessed milk thistle, Gundagai thistle, Lady’s thistle, Blessed milkthistle, St. Mary’s Thistle, Blessed milk-thistle, Spotted thistle, Blessed thistle, Cabbage thistle, Our Lady’s milk thistle, Milk-thistle
Ar: Shawk el-gamal, شوك الحنش (شُوك الحَنَش)، لخلاخ (لِخْلاخ), خرشوف (خَرشوف)، خشروف (خُشْروف), خشروف (خُشْروف، خَشْروف), شوك الجمل (شوك الجَمَل)، لخلاخ (لِخْلاخ), شوك الغزال (شُوك الغَزال), شوك سنارى (شُوك سِنَّارى)، شوك نصاره (شُوك نَصَّاره)
Ca: Card gallofer, Card marià, Cardot
Cs: Ostropestřec mariánský
Da: Almindelig marietidsel, Marietidsel
Nl: Mariadistel
Et: Harilik maarjaohakas
Fi: Maarianohdake
Fr: Chardon Marie, Chardon argenté, Silybe de Marie, Lait de Notre Dame, Chardon-Marie, Silybum marial, Artichaut sauvage, Chardon de Notre-Dame, Chardon marbré, Épine blanche, Lait de Notre-Dame, Notobasis de Syrie, Chardon de Syrie, Tyrimne à taches blanches
De: Mariendistel, Echte Mariendistel, Gewöhnliche Mariendistel
He: גדילן מצוי
Hu: Máriatövis
It: Cardo di Santa Maria, Cardo mariano
Lv: Īstais m
Lt: Tikrasis margainis
Nb: Mariatistel
Nn: Maritistel
Pt: Cardo-leiteiro, Cardo-santo, Silibina, Silimarina, Cardo leiteiro, Cardo-mariano
Ru: Rastoropša pjatnistaja, Ostro-pestro
Sk: Pestrec mariánsky
Es: Cardo de María, Cardo lechero, Cardo mariano, Caro mariano, Cardo-asnal, Cardo-mariano, Cardo asnal, Cardo lechoso
Sv: Mariatistel, Maarianohdake
Ur: Oont Katara
Cy: Cribau Mair, Ysgall Ddrain Gwyn, Ysgall Mair, Ysgallen Fair, Ysgallen Fendigaid, Ysgallen Fraith, Ysgallen Wen

Synonyms

• Mariacantha maculosa (Bubani)
• Silybum marianum var. albiflorum (Eig)
• Carduus mariae (Crantz)
• Carduus lactifolius (Stokes)
• Carduus marianus (L.)
• Centaurea dalmatica (Fraas)
• Mariana mariana (Hill)
• Silybum marianum subsp. anatolicum (Meriçli)
• Silybum mariae var. unicolor (Gray)
• Silybum marianum var. longispinum (Lamotte)
• Carduus versicolor (Salisb.)
• Silybum leucanthum (Jord. & Fourr.)
• Silybum maculatum ((Scop.) Moench)
• Carthamus maculatus ((Scop.) Lam.)
• Silybum intermedium (Willk.)
• Mariana lactea (Hill)
• Silybum pygmaeum (Cass.)
• Silybum mariae ((Crantz) Gray)
• Cirsium maculatum (Scop.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Sahara (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
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Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 2, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2017 by virginie Giraud (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Jul 13, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 10, 2022 by Sánchez Cristina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2019 by Geneviève Roguet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2018 by Sofia Blanco (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 23, 2018 by Mandy Fitzsimmons (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 14, 2019 by Pere Valls (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2021 by dinkel benjamin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2021 by dinkel benjamin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 31, 2022 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 31, 2022 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 20, 2021 by Magalie Delalande (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by El Mojito (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 3, 2021 by Marco Urbinati (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2020 by Vincent-bdr (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 4, 2019 by spera susianum (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Milica K (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 24, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2019 by Chris Georges (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 24, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3145214)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:249211-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 3

Soil nutriments: 8