Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.

Code

SLYMA

Growth form

Broadleaf

Biological cycle

Annual to biennial

Habitat

Terrestrial

Algeria: Silybum marianum germinates in autumn-winter; flowers from March to June.
Brazil: Silybum marianum germinates in winter and flowers in spring.
Morocco: Silybum marianum flowers from April to July.

Silybum marianum is an annual to biennial species.

Silybum marianum reproduces by seed.

Silybum marianum is mainly a myrmecochorous species (seeds spread by ants).

Silybum marianum is a C3 species.

Algeria: Silybum marianum is a fairly common species in various annual crops (cereals and catch crops in particular) and perennial crops (mainly vineyards), along irrigation channels and in uncultivated areas in the north of the country, as confirmed by the profusion of vernacular names. Prefers deep silty to silty-clay soils, fairly rich in nitrogen. Withstands soil compaction.
Brazil: Silybum marianum is an exotic species. It prefers rich sandy-clay soils in cold regions of the country. It is mainly found in the Rio Grande do Sul region.
France - Camargue: Silybum marianum grows everywhere along roadsides and paths, in large clumps or isolated. It is also characteristic of livestock stabling areas.
Morocco: Silybum marianum is a nitrophilous species found in pastures and wasteland in regions with high rainfall, up to 1800 m altitude.

Local harmfulness

Algeria: Silybum marianum is a secondary "weed". It has an average ecological range but does not constitute an agronomic constraint due to its limited abundance. However, it can be used as an indicator of regional ecological conditions. Due to its wide distribution, it is a species to be monitored in the event of changes in the context, such as a change in the cropping system, which could lead to a disruption in the inter-specific competition relationships. It can sometimes be locally abundant, with a very large leaf area per individual (the rosette of leaves often reaches 120 cm in diameter, i.e. around 1 m2).
Brazil: Silybum marianum is a weed of pastures, crops and abandoned areas. Its main nuisance comes from its prickles, which cause injuries, particularly to animals. Due to the accumulation of nitrites, it can be toxic to cattle.
South Africa: Silybum marianum is an exotic species that invades pastures where, once established, it can eliminate most other plant species. It can also interfere with the movement of livestock and people. It is a weed of cultivated land and is also a nuisance along roadsides and in waste areas. In addition to the problems and injuries caused by its thistles, S. marianum can, under certain conditions, accumulate nitrogen and become seriously toxic to livestock.

Food: The young, tender shoots of Silybum marianum are harvested from December to March, peeled and eaten raw as a country salad, while the main veins are cooked like chard. The flower heads are sometimes eaten as artichokes.

Medicinal: The tyranine in S. marianum seeds treats cardiovascular disorders, asthma and rheumatic attacks. They also contain silybin, a flavonoid with hepatoprotective properties that are highly effective against hepatitis and phalloid poisoning. The plant is also sometimes used to remedy venous circulatory disorders.

Local control

Algeria: Hoeing out seedlings or uprooting adult Silybum marianum is all that is usually required in the case of heavy infestations.