Cirsium acaule subsp. esculentum, (Sievers) Werner

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 : 240

(c) Subsp. esculentum (Sievers) Werner , loc. cit. (1975)

( Cnicus esculentus Sievers , Cirsium esculentum (Sievers) C. A. Meyer ):

Stem (0-)5-10(-35) cm. Leaves patent-pubescent beneath, sparsely arachnoid-hairy especially on the veins; lobes with stout spines 3-10 mm. Capitula usually (3—)5—12 crowded at apex or rarely shortly pedunculate, with 2-8 subtending leaves

about as long as capitulum. Involucral bracts long; outer rather obtuse, with spine 2-4 mm; middle acute, with spines up to 1 mm. Pappus 24-30 mm, about equalling corolla. Steppes and saline soils. U.S.S.R., northwards to c. 56° N. and westwards to c. 34° E.