THISTLES AND THORNS
It is an abundant plant in Palestine and in the flora of the biblical lands, together with herbs, bushes and small thorny bushes of various kinds (Gen. 3:18; Hos. 10:8; Mt. 7:16; Acts 6: 8).
It is believed that Christ’s crown of thorns was made from the branch of a plant with leaves similar to laurel and abundant thorns, called today “Zizyphus spina Christi.”
The “thorn in the flesh” of which St. Paul spoke was probably a physical illness or disease (2 Cor. 12:7).