Elephant Thistle
Silybum eburneum · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Elephant Thistle, scientifically known as Silibum eburneum, is a distinctive perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Characterized by its striking white bracts and robust architecture, this plant is valued in traditional medicine. It shares botanical similarities with milk thistle, offering potential therapeutic properties for supporting liver health.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Not available
- Common names
- Elephant Thistle · Silver Milk Thistle
- Scientific synonyms
- Silybum Eburneum Subsp. Hispanicus · Mariana Eburnea F. Hispanica · 2 more
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- Elephant Thistle
- Silver milk thistle
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Silybum eburneumSynonyms
- Silybum eburneum subsp. hispanicus
- Mariana eburnea f. hispanica
- Mariana eburnea
- Silybum eburneum var. hispanicum
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Cardo zapero
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. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Silybum as Silybum eburneum.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Silybum |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Spain. Moving across the Mediterranean, it is widely found throughout Northern Africa, including Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Furthermore, its range extends into the Northeast Tropical Africa region, where it can be found in Ethiopia. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in diverse Mediterranean and tropical environments.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain |
| Northern Africa | Algeria |
| Northern Africa | Morocco |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Morphology
The morphology of Silybum eburneum is characterized by its growth form as a herb, presenting a robust and non-woody structure. As a non-woody herbaceous plant, it lacks a lignified stem, instead relying on fleshy or fibrous tissues to support its developmental stages. This herbaceous habit allows the plant to focus its energy on rapid vegetative growth and the production of large, distinctive foliage and flowering structures typical of the Asteraceae family.
- Growth form :
- herb
- Woodiness :
- non-woody
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Chemicals
Silybum eburneum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isosilychristin, SILYMARIN.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Isosilychristin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SILYMARIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Isosilychristin
- Frontiers in plant science
SILYMARIN
- Frontiers in plant science