User:Blasera/sandbox

Distribution and habitat
S. marianum is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe including Greece (mostly in Crete), east into Iran and Afghanistan. It is possibly native near the coast of southeast England. S. marianum has been widely introduced outside its natural range, for example into North America, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia where it is considered an invasive weed. Additionally, today it also spreads as invasive plant in almost all of Europe as a consequence of field cultivation.

S. marianum establishes itself in sunny, warm ruderal meadows in regularly disturbed places such as rubble deposits, at the foot of south-exposed walls or villages and on urban fallow land or on cattle pastures. However, it does not prefer dry, stony soils.

S. marianum has been potentially observed to modify fire regimes in its invasive range. Its invasion into new habitats may also be encouraged by fire.

The "giant thistle of the Pampas" reported by Darwin in the Voyage of the Beagle is thought by some to be Silybum marianum.