About Galactites tomentosa Moench
Galactites tomentosa (also referred to as Galactites tomentosus) is a hemicryptophyte plant that reaches up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in height. Its stem is erect, covered in fine short hairs, and branches near the top. The upper surface of its leaves is green, long, lanceolate, and pinnatisect, with distinct white mottled markings. The leaf underside is whitish and covered in dense, matted woolly hairs. Leaf edges have sharp, strong thorns. The plant produces quite large flower heads, approximately 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter. The involucre of each flower head is covered in hairy scales, each ending in a single grooved thorn. Central flowers within the head are hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects, while the outer flowers are sterile. Flower color ranges from white or pink to lilac-purple. Flowering occurs from April through July, and seeds ripen from August through September. The fruits are achenes, each equipped with whitish hairy pappus appendages. This species is native to the Mediterranean Basin, distributed from Greece to the Iberian Peninsula, and also occurs naturally in Morocco, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. It has been introduced to the Azores. It grows best in sunny locations, and is most commonly found on uncultivated or barren ground, waste areas, well-drained soils, pastures, and roadsides. This plant is edible.
