Rhaponticum


Rhaponticum, Maral Root, is a genus of flowering plants in the thistle tribe within the sunflower family.

Description

Rhaponticum species are perennial herbaceous plants with simple, rarely branched stems. The leaves are simple to pinnatifid. The inflorescence is on the apex of the stem. The fruit is an achene with a hairy pappus.

Medicinal use

The Maral root is used in folk medicine:
Maral root can be used for athletes preparing for a competition, because:

Species

The genus comprises the following species.
Several species are now relegated to other genera: Centaurea, Klasea, Ochrocephala, Stemmacantha, and Synurus.