Cirsium acaule, Scop.

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

44. C. acaule Scop. , Annus Hist.-Nat. 2: 62 (1769).

Perennial, acaulescent or rarely with stem 5-15(-35) cm. Leaves herbaceous, undulate, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, pinnatisect; segments ovate to suborbicular, with 2-5 spinose-dentate lobes. Involucre 20-32 x (10-)16-25(-30) mm; bracts appressed, the vittae absent or indistinct. Corolla 23-35 mm, purple. Achenes 3-5 mm. From N. England and Estonia southwards to S. Spain, C. Jugoslavia and S.E. Russia. Au Be Br Cz Da Ga Ge He Ho Hs It Ju No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, E) Su.

1 Leaf-lobes with slender, pungent spines 2-5(-7) mm; middle

involucral bracts obtuse, not spiny (a) subsp. acaule 1 Leaf-lobes with stout, yellowish spines (3-)6-12mm; middle

involucral bracts usually acute, with pungent spinules 2 Capitula1- 5;pappus 18-22mm, much shorterthan the corolla

(b) subsp. gregarium 2 Capitulausually(3 —)5—12; pappus 24-30mm, about equalling

the corolla (c) subsp. esculentum