Cirsium vulgare, (Savi) Ten.

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 : 237

28. C. vulgare (Savi) Ten. , Fl. Nap. 5: 209 (1835-1838)

( C. lanceolatum(L.) Scop. , non Hill; incl. C. crinitum Boiss. ex DC. ).

Biennial (2O-)5O-15O(-3OO) cm; stem winged. Leaves decurrent for the whole internode, or theupper less so, sparsely arachnoidhairy to -tomentose beneath; lobes narrowly lanceolate or narrowly triangular to elliptic-lanceolate, with weak to strong apical spine 2—10(— 15) mm. Capitula shortly to long-pedunculate, in a panicle or corymb, usually without subtending leaves. Involucre (25-)30-40 x 20-40 mm, sparsely arachnoid-hairy to -lanate, rarely subglabrous; bractsgradually narrowed into the pungent apical spine 2-3 - 5 mm. Corolla 26-36 mm, purple. Achenes 3 -5-5 mm; pappus 20-30 mm. 2и = 68, 102. Almost throughout Europe. All except Cr Fa Is Sb.

Variable in size and texture of leaves, indumentum, branching, and attitude of involucral bracts. On the basis of these characters several taxa have been described but there is insufficient morphological and chorological delimitation to give them sub­ specific rank.