Cnicus benedictus, Holy Thistle - Seeds - plants - dried herbs

Common names: St. Benedict's thistle, holy thistle, Saint Benedict thistle, spotted thistle, cardin, bitter thistle, blessed cardus, blessed thistle

Botanical name & synonyms: Cnicus benedictus, Centaurea benedicta, Cnicus benedictus var. kotschyi, Cnicus benedictus var. microcephalus, Carbenia benedicta, Carbenia benedicta, Cnicus bulgaricus, Centaurea benedicta, Cnicus microcephalus, Cnicus pseudo-benedictus, Epitrachys microcephala

Family: Aster, daisy, sunflower (Asteraceae, Compositae)

• native to South-Europe, western Asia and northern Africa
  

• 20 to 40cm
  

• annual
  

• flower VI to VIII
  

• medicinal herb
  

• weight of 1000 seeds = 30 gram