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The common golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant that is native to southern and western Europe. The stems are branched at the top, with discontinuous spiny, dentate wings, and it can reach up to 80 cm in height. The basal leaves are oblong-lanceolate, smooth, pinnatisect, with few spines, and a long petiole. The caulinar leaves are rigid, coriaceous and spiny. The flowerheads are bright yellow to orange-yellow, 2-3 cm diameter, and bloom from May to July. Since the time of ancient Greece, this plant has been known for medicinal and culinary uses.
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