blessed thistle

Noun

• annual of Mediterranean to Portugal having hairy stems and minutely spiny-toothed leaves and large heads of yellow flowers

• tall Old World biennial thistle with large clasping white-blotched leaves and purple flower heads; naturalized in California and South America

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  sweet sultan , Cnicus benedictus , milk thistle , lady's thistle , Our Lady's mild thistle , holy thistle , Silybum marianum