Centaurea micracantha, Dufour

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 : 284

155. C. micracantha Dufour , Ann. Sci. Nat. 23: 164 (1831).

Annual. Stems 20-50 cm, erect, much-branched, the branches narrowly and interruptedly winged. Leaves lanate-puberulent, scabrid, glabrescent, denticulate; lower pinnately lobed; upper lanceolate, the uppermost linear-lanceolate. Capitula in corymbose clusters. Involucre c. 8 mm in diameter, ovoid; appendages c. 3 times as wide as bracts, broadly semilunate, narrowed at the base, palmately spinose, with 4-6 parallel, rigid, yellow spines, the apical stouter and longer. Florets purple. Achenes c. 3-5 mm. • S. Spain. Hs.