A stout, prickly biennial, 3-6 ft. high with terete, striate, hollow stems. The second-year leaves are simple, opposite, net-veined, sessile, and connate-perfoliate. The blades are sessile, connate-perfoliate, lanceolate, entire or toothed, and the midrib is usually spiny below. The flowers are perfect and subtended by spiny, awned bracts. The inflorescence is a terminal spike, 4-10 cm long. The petals are lilac to pink. The fruit is a nutlet that is ribbed, hairy, and 4-5 mm long.
To treat conditions such as warts, fistulae and cancerous sores; to strengthen the stomach, create an appetite, remove obstructions of the liver and treat jaundice (infusion). An ointment made from the roots is used to treat warts, wens and whitlows
Health Remedies 
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