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Silybum eburneum

Coss. & Durieu

Elephant thistle

Asteraceae Edible: Leaves, Stalk, Seeds 72 iNaturalist observations

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(c) Mehdi Chetibi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mehdi Chetibi

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(c) José María, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by José María

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(c) gullnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Description

An annual herb in the daisy family with edible leaves, stalks, and seeds. Native to Mediterranean climates, it grows as a typical thistle with divided foliage.

Edible Uses

The leaves and stalks are cooked and eaten, and the seeds are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The leaves and stalks are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Mediterranean, North Africa, Tunisia,

Notes

There are 2 Silybum species.

References (4)

  • Bull. Soc. Bot. France 2:366. 1855
  • Dop, M. C., et al, 2019, Identification and frequency of consumption of wild edible plants over a year in central Tunisia: a mixed-methods approach. Public Health Nutrition: 23(5), 782–794
  • Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 101
  • Rivera, D. et al, 2006, Gathered Mediterranean Food Plants - Ethnobotanical Investigations and Historical Development, in Heinrich M, Müller WE, Galli C (eds): Local Mediterranean Food Plants and Nutraceuticals. Forum Nutr. Basel, Karger, 2006, vol 59, pp 18–74

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