Scolymus
(the old Greek name, used by Theophrastus and other writers as far back as Hesiod). ORD. Compositae. A small genus (three species) of hardy, erect, annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, natives of the Mediterranean region. Flower-heads yellow, terminal or lateral, sessile; involucre ovoid or sub-globose, the few-seriate bracts mucronate or spiny at apex, gradually passing into floral leaves; receptacle conical or elongated; florets ligulate, truncately five-toothed at apex. Leaves alternate, rigid, sinuate-toothed or pinnatifid, with spiny teeth or lobes, often white-spotted above. The roots of S. hispanicus are equally as good as Scorzonera; the leaves and stalks are eaten as Cardoons by the people of Salamanca; the flowers are employed for the adulteration of Saffron. S. maculatus is sometimes cultivated for the sake of its spotted, variegated leaves; seeds of this species only require sowing in the open ground. The perennial and biennial species thrive in common soil, and may be increased by seeds, or by divisions.
S. grandiflorus (large-flowered).* fl.-heads solitary, usually terminal; bracts sub-verticillate. May. l. slightly villous, decurrent, winged. Stem villous. h. 3ft. Mediterranean region, 1828. Perennial. S. hispanicus (Spanish). Golden Thistle; Spanish Oyster Plant. fl.-heads bibracteate, sub-aggregate, in leafy spikes. August. l. decurrent, slightly glabrous, winged. h. 3ft. South-west Europe, 1653. Biennial. (S. F. G. 825.) S. maculatus (spotted). fl.-heads somewhat corymbose, many-bracted; bracts pectinate. July. l. cartilaginous on the margins, decurrent, winged, often white-spotted. Stem simple, glabrous. h. 3ft. South Europe, 1630. Annual. (S. F. F. G. 824.)