44 



AMERICAN MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HEEBS. 



BLESSED THISTLE. 



Cnicus benedictuslj. 



Synonyms.— Centaurea benedicta L.; Carduus henedictus Cam.; Carbenia benedicta 

 Adans. 



Other common navMS. — Holy thistle, St. Benedict's thistle, Our Lady's thistle, bitter 

 thistle, spotted thistle, cursed thistle, blessed cardus, spotted cardus. 



Habitat and range. — The 

 blessed thistle is a weed 

 which has been introduced 

 into this country from 

 southern Europe and is 

 found in waste places and 

 stony, uncultivated locali- 

 ties from Xova Scotia to 

 Maryland and the South- 

 ern States; also on the 

 Pacific coast. It is culti- 

 vated in many parts of 

 Europe. 



Description. — In height 

 this annual plant of the 

 aster family (Asteraceae) 

 scarcely exceeds 2 feet, 

 with coarse erect stems, 

 branched and rather 

 woolly. The leaves are 

 large, 3 to 6 inches long or 

 more, oblong lance shaped , 

 thin, more or less hairy, 

 with margins wa^y lobed 

 and spiny. The lower 

 leaves and those at the 

 bottom are narrowed 

 toward the base into 

 winged stems, while those 

 near the top are stemless 

 and clasping. 



The yellow flower heads, wliich appear from about May to August, are situated at 

 the ends of the branches, almost hidden by the upper leaves, and are about an inch 

 and a half in length. Immediately surrounding the yellow flower heads are scales 

 of a leathery texture, tipped -w-ith long, hard, branching, yellowish-red spines. 

 (Fig. .36.) 



Collection, prices, and uses.— The leafy flowering tops and the other leaves are gath- 

 ered prefera1)ly just before or during the blossoming jieriod and then are thoroughly 

 and (luickly dried. In the fresh state the leaves and tops have a rather disagreeable 

 odor, which they lose on drying. They are bright green when fresh and gra}dsh green 

 and woolly when dry. Collectors receive about 6 to 8 cents a pound. 



The taste of the blessed thistle is very bitter and salty and somewhat acrid. 11 is 

 used principally as a bitter tonic. 



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Fig. 36.— Bles-sed thistle ( Cnicus benedictus), leaves and flowors. 



