A perennial dicotyledonous flowering plant. The spiny, pinnatilobate leaves grow in a basal rosette approximately 20 cm in diameter. The flowers are produced in a large (up to 10 cm) flowerhead of silvery-white ray florets around a central disc. The disc florets are tubular and yellow-brown in colour.

Antibiotic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, mildly diuretic, emetic in large doses, febrifuge and purgative (root)

Plants for a Future

In the treatment of spasms of the digestive tract, gall bladder and liver disorders, dropsy, urine retention etc (plant); for skin complaints such as acne and eczema, to cleanse wounds or as an antiseptic gargle (root)