Galactites tomentosa
Encyclopedia
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.
The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects, they are quite large - about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) 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 achene
s with whitish hairy appendages (pappus
).
Biennial plant
A biennial plant is a flowering plant that takes two years to complete its biological lifecycle. In the first year the plant grows leaves, stems, and roots , then it enters a period of dormancy over the colder months. Usually the stem remains very short and the leaves are low to the ground, forming...
or annual
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
plant belonging to the genus Galactites
Galactites
Galactites is a genus of of about 10 species of flowering plants in the daisy family. The name is derived from the Greek γάλα ....
of the Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
family. The name derives from the greek γάλα (= "milk"), referring to the dense white hairs covering the stems and leaves of this species.
Description
Galactites tomentosa reaches an height of 45–70 cm (17.7–27.6 ). 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 (1.2 in) 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 achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
s with whitish hairy appendages (pappus
Pappus
Pappus may refer to:*Pappus , a type of flower structure*Pappus of Alexandria, Greek mathematician**Pappus's hexagon theorem, often just called 'Pappus's theorem', a theorem named for Pappus of Alexandria...
).