Cichorium spinosum, L.

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 : 305

3. C. spinosum L. , Sp. Pl. 813 (1753).

Dwarf perennial with a woody stock. Stems 3-5-18 cm, divaricately branched from the base, the upper branches non-flowering and spine-like. Leaves 2-9 x 0-2-1 -5 cm, fleshy, runcinate or dentate, glabrous. Capitula mostly in the dichotomies of the stem, subsessile in groups of 1-4. Involucre 5-8 x 2-3 mm; outer bracts ovate to broadly elliptical, the inner lanceolate, c. 3 times as long as the outer. Ligules blue, rarely pink or white, about twice as long as involucre. Achenes 1 -5-2 mm; pappus-scales -fö-(as long as achene. Mediterranean region. Cr Gr Hs It Si.