Centaurea sphaerocephala subsp. polyacantha, (Willd.) Dostal

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 283-284

(d) Subsp. polyacantha (Willd.) Dostál , loc. cit. (1976)

( C. polyacantha Willd. ):

Stems 5-15(-30) cm, simple or rarely branched. Leaves arachnoid-hairy; lower lyrate to pinnatifid; upper pinnatilobed to irregularly mucronate-dentate. Involucre 30-35 mm in diameter, ovoid, truncate at base; appendages with equal divaricate spines all over the back. Achenes whitish; pappus short. 2л = 22. Sandy or rocky places. • Portugal, S. Spain.

Subsp. (d) is possibly worth specific rank, and further investigation is required.