Asteraceae

Silybum Adans.

First published in Fam. Pl. 2: 116, 605 (1763), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Medit. to Central Asia and India, Macaronesia to Arabian Peninsula.

Descriptions

Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. & Hind, D. J. N. (Eds). (2019). Flora of Iraq, Volume 6: Compositae.Kew Publishing

Morphology General Habit
Robust biennial thistle with a basal rosette, stems unwinged
Morphology Leaves
Leaves lobed, spiny
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula solitary, homogamous; involucre globose; phyllaries in several series, outer foliaceous, spiny with terminal spine very strong, innermost lanceolate, entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle fleshy, densely setose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla purple (rarely white), tube very slender, twice as long as the deeply and obliquely 5-lobed limb; filaments connate, glandular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes obovate-ellipsoid, laterally compressed, hilum slightly eccentric at base, apical umbo surrounded by a  raised  rim; pappus of several rows of off-white, flattened barbellate hairs which are connate into a deciduous ring at base.
Distribution
Two species in the Mediterranean region, SW Asia and E to Afghanistan; one species in Iraq.
Etymology
Silybum (from σιληβον, silybon, applied by Dioscorides to various thistle-like plants and mentioned by Pliny as a remedy for jaundice).
[FIQ]

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit
Herbs with basal rosette of lobed leaves, and with alternate entire cauline leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula solitary, homogamous; involucre globose; phyllaries pluriseriate, with spiny margins; receptacle flat, fleshy, densely setose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla with filiform tube, lobes oblique, filaments connate in a tube, glandular; anthers with very short tails
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Pappus 3-seriate, barbellate.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora of Iraq

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0