1. Tall Old World biennial thistle with large clasping white-blotched leaves and purple flower heads; naturalized in California and South America
   "blessed thistle is often used in herbal medicine for liver problems";
   - milk thistle, lady's thistle, Our Lady's mild thistle, holy thistle, Silybum marianum
    
2. Annual of Mediterranean to Portugal having hairy stems and minutely spiny-toothed leaves and large heads of yellow flowers
   "Blessed thistle was traditionally used for medicinal purposes";
   - sweet sultan, Cnicus benedictus

Derived forms: blessed thistles

Type of: herb, herbaceous plant, thistle

Part of: Cnicus, genus Cnicus, genus Silybum, Silybum

Encyclopedia: Blessed thistle