Cirsium canum, (L.) All.

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 : 241

50. C. canum (L.) All. , FI. Pedem. 1: 151 (1785).

Perennial (30-)50-150(-250) cm; roots with fusiform tubers. Stem simple or sparingly branched, leafless or with few, small bract-like leaves in upper half, spinulose-winged below. Leaves herbaceous, flat, the lower decurrent for at least half the internode, all lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptical, usually coarsely dentate to lobed (rarely pinnatifid), patent-pubescent and scarcely arachnoid-hairy, often glabrescent, with soft spinules 1-5 mm. Capitula solitary, long-pedunculate. Involucre (12-) 17-21 x (12-)20-25 mm; bracts with conspicuous vittae, obtuse (only the outermost acute); outer with patent spinule up to 1 -5 mm; middle with patent, oblong-suborbicular, scarious-margined appendage, spinulose; inner with lanceolate, membranous, ciliate appendage. Corolla 15-22 mm, purple. Achenes 3-4-5 mm; pappus 14-17 mm, the inner setae expanded at apex. 2n = 34. Damp meadows and river-banks. C. & S.E. Europe, extending to C. Italy and northwards to 55° N. in C. Russia. Al Au Bu Cz Ge Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W, E).