Centaurea benedicta
| Centaurea benedicta | |
|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Cardueae |
| Subtribe: | Centaureinae |
| Genus: | Centaurea |
| Species: | C. benedicta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Centaurea benedicta (L.) L.
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Synonymy
| |
_Centaurea_Benedicta_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg){kind=link}
Centaurea benedicta, known by the common names St. Benedict's thistle, blessed thistle, holy thistle, spotted thistle or blessed knapweed, is an annual thistle-like plant in the family Asteraceae,[2] native to Mediterranean Europe and western and Central Asia, ranging from Portugal and Spain to southeastern Europe, Ukraine and southern European Russia, Saudi Arabia, Xinjiang, and Pakistan.[1] It is known in other parts of the world, including parts of North America, as an introduced species and often a noxious weed.[2]
Growth
[edit | edit source]Centaurea benedicta is an annual plant growing to 60 cm tall, with leathery, hairy leaves up to 30 cm long and 8 cm broad, with small spines on the margins. The flowers are yellow, produced in a dense flowerhead (capitulum) 3–4 cm diameter, surrounded by numerous spiny basal bracts. Blessed thistle blooms mid summer to early fall.
All parts of the plant have a light down covering. This plant has a sprawling habit instead of standing upright. It needs full sun to grow and good soil drainage, as it will die in waterlogged soil. Water blessed thistle daily if you want your plant to produce lush leaves.
Seeds are too large to start in most seed trays, so it is recommended to sow outside after the danger of frost passes. Bury the seed 1/4 inch in the soil which should remain moist until germination that takes between two and three weeks. Leave at least 12 to 15 inches of space between plants.
In literature
[edit | edit source]In Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing, “Carduus Benedictus”, in tincture form, is recommended for a cold.[3] The pointed allusion, by Margaret, is to Beatrice's tormentor-lover, Benedick.
Folk medicine
[edit | edit source]Blessed thistle is used in folk remedies as a galactagogue with other herbs to increase breast milk supply, although there is no scientific evidence that such use is effective.[4] Although the leaves are unpalatable with a bitter taste, blessed thistle is used as a flavoring in alcoholic beverages, and is considered a safe ingredient for food uses.[4] As a member of the ragweed family, blessed thistle may cause allergic reactions in susceptible people, and use of large amounts may cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.[4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- Spotted thistle entry in the public domain, NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Centaurea
- Flora of Central Asia
- Flora of Western Asia
- Flora of the Caucasus
- Flora of the Crimean Peninsula
- Flora of Czechoslovakia
- Flora of Southeastern Europe
- Flora of South European Russia
- Flora of Pakistan
- Flora of Portugal
- Flora of Saudi Arabia
- Flora of Spain
- Flora of Ukraine
- Flora of Xinjiang
- Plants described in 1753
- Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus