Scolymus hispanicus L. Common Golden Thistle

Scolymus hispanicus L. - Common Golden Thistle

Scientific Description:

Sparsely arachnoid biennial or perennial, up to 70 cm, densely branched, bushy-pyramidal. Stems with interrupted spiny-dentate wings. Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, pinnatifid to deeply toothed, spiny. Involucre 1−1.5(−2) cm broad; phyllaries sparsely pubescent, lanceolate, acute. Corolla white-hairy on outside. Paleae narrowed towards apex. Achenes 3−5 mm. Pappus of 2−4 bristles.

Flowering time: June−August(−September).

Habitat: Waste land, roadsides, fallow fields, s.l.−1600 m.

Reference:
Matthews VA (1975). Scolymus hispanicus L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 624−625.

Public Description:

Scolymus hispanicus, known as “common golden thistle” or “Spanish oyster thistle fleabane” is distributed in Southern Europe, Mediterranean region, Southern Russia, Crimea and North Africa. It is a biennial or perennial herb with yellow flowers, and grows up to 70 cm in length. It blooms between June and August and is found in waste land, roadsides and fallow fields. It has yellow flowers, and spiny leaves and stems. The common golden thistle is a very popular plant in many countries and used in meals and salad. Türkiye's first patented herbal medicine, “lityazol cemil”, was derived from the root of this plant by Dr. Cemil Şener in 1934. This herbal medicine was used especially in the treatment of kidney stones.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolymus_hispanicus/, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2018). http://www.khcbaser.com/turkish/kisisel/makale/lityazol.htm, Accessed date: 27.02.2018.

Ekim T (2012). Scolymus L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 195.