Cirsium ligulare, Boiss.

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 : 236

18. C. ligulare Boiss. , FI. Or. 3: 529 (1875).

Biennial 20-150 (-200) cm. Leaves sparsely to densely arachnoid-lanate, rarely tomentose or sparsely arachnoid-hairy beneath; lobes narrowly lanceolate to oblong-triangular, with apical spine 3-20 mm. Capitula usually few in a lax raceme or corymb, with short to long peduncles, usually with 1-10 subtending leaves. Involucre 25-45 x 25-50(-60) mm, glabrous to arachnoid-lanate; bracts sometimes with short marginal spinules, the curved part spinu- lose-scabrid on inner surface; outer recurved to patent; middle to inner patent, gradually widened towards the apex, with rather cochleariform or galeate, more or less scarious-fimbriate to -laciniate appendage 1 -5-5-5 mm wide and apical spine 1—6(—10) mm, the appendage often with short spinules scattered or in rows or rarely forming a narrow wing on inner surface. Corolla 24-35(-39) mm, purple. Achenes 4-5-5-5(-6-5) mm; pappus 22-32 mm. Balkan peninsula, S. Romania. Al Bu Gr Ju Rm.

A very variable species showing a series of altitudinal variants, differing in height, degree of spininess and size of involucral appendages, which are sometimes treated as infraspecific taxa.

C. sintenisii Freyn , Bull. Herb. Boiss. 3: 466 (1895), from Anatolia, has been recorded from S. Romania, probably in error for 18, from which it differs in the involucral bracts having flat, lanceolate, spinose-dentate to -fimbriate appendages 1-1-8 mm wide.