Purple milk thistle

Appearance

The flower heads are quite large – about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter. The involucre of the flower head is covered by hairy scales ending with a single grooved thorn. The central flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects, while external flowers are sterile; their color varies from white or pink to lilac-purple.

Naming

The genus name derives from the Greek γάλα (= "milk"), referring to the dense white hairs covering the stems and leaves of this species, the species name tomentosa means hairy in latin.

Synonyms
Galactites pumila, Porta
Carduus galactites, (L.) Chaub.
Lupsia galactites, (L.) Kuntze
Galactites elegans, (All.) Nyman ex Soldano

Distribution

This plant is distributed in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat

This plant prefers sunny places and usually grows on the uncultivated or barren grounds, waste places, well-drained soils, pastures and roadsides.

Reproduction

The flowering period extends from April through July[2] and the seeds ripen from August through September[citation needed]. The fruits are achenes with whitish hairy appendages (pappus).

Uses

It is an edible plant.