Purple Milk Thistle

Galactites tomentosa, common names: Purple Milk Thistle, is a biennial or annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Galactites of the Asteraceae family. The name derives from the greek γάλα (= "milk"), referring to the dense white hairs covering the stems and leaves of this species.

Galactites tomentosa reaches an height of 45–70 centimetres. The stem is erect and pubescent, branched at the top. The leaves are green, long and narrow, lanceolate, mottled with white markings, while the underside is whitish and covered with matted woolly hairs (hence the Latin name tomentosa of the species). The margins of the leaves bear strong thorns.

The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects, they are quite large - about 3 centimetres in diameter-, their color varies from white or pink to lilac-purple. The flower's attachment to the stalk (receptacle) is covered by hairy scales ending with a single grooved thorn. The flowering period extends from July through August and the seeds ripen from August through September. The fruits are achenes with whitish hairy appendages (pappus).

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactites_tomentosa – 27.09.2011