Carduus benedictus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Our Lady's thistle
• blessed thistle
• Bitter Thistle
• Cursed Thistle
• Holy Thistle
• Spotted Thistle
• St. Benedict's Thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carbenia benedicta
• Cnicus benedictus
• Carbeni benedicta
• Calcitrapa benedicta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Centaurea, specifically as the species Centaurea benedicta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Belgium. Its range continues through the central territories of Germany. Finally, the plant is also documented within the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Centaurea benedicta is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse landscapes and a significant vertical distribution across varying terrains. It thrives in a variety of environments, ranging from disturbed areas such as crop fields, dumps, and old fields to more natural settings like deserts, hills, and stony places. This species exhibits a wide elevational range, beginning at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extending up to a maximum altitude of 1600 m AMSL, with a mean elevational distribution centered around 1250 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, dump, hills, old fields, stony places

Life history

The life history of Centaurea benedicta is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its biological strategy relies on surviving unfavorable conditions through a dormant seed stage rather than maintaining vegetative structures above ground. This life form dictates that the plant survives the period between growing seasons as a seed, which then germinates to produce a rapid growth cycle that culminates in flowering and senescence, ensuring the continuation of the species through the dispersal of its offspring.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Centauria benedicta is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent lifestyle without being a parasite or an epiphyte; it is strictly a terrestrial species. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits variable height, ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.69 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.325 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.69 m

Plant height mean:

0.325 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Centaurea benedicta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The morphological aspects of its foliage play a significant role in its physiological performance, featuring an average leaf size of approximately 23.4275 cm² and a maximum leaf width reaching up to 30 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 300.7 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per unit area and provides insight into its resource acquisition strategies and light-use efficiency.

Leaf size mean:

23.4275 cm²

Leaf width max:

30 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

300.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Centaurea benedicta is characterized by a specific flowering window that begins in June and concludes in July. Once pollination occurs, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not burst open at maturity to release their contents. The dimensions of the fruit are highly consistent, with a mean, minimum, and maximum length of 0.6 cm, and a mean, minimum, and maximum width of 0.2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds vary in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.0103 g to a maximum of 0.0275 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.024145 g. For the purpose of spreading to new locations, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement of its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0275 g

Seed mass mean:

0.024145 g

Seed mass min:

0.0103 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Centaurea benedicta has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Centaurea benedicta has 89 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cnicin, Arctigenin, Arctiin, (+)-catechin, ALUMINUM.

Cnicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Arctigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Arctiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Absinthin

1. Dr. Duke

Artemisiifolin

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Centaurea benedicta has 585 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor.

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke