Onopordum acanthium subsp. acanthium

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 : 245

(a) Subsp. acanthium :

Stem appressed-hairy; wings up to 15 mm wide. Leaves densely tomentose or lanate beneath. Capitula 35-50 mm in diameter, sparsely arachnoid-hairy; involucral bracts 2-2-5 mm wide at base, glabrous inside. Corolla 22-25 mm. Achenes transversely rugose. 2n = 34. Throughout the range of the species.

Dwarf plants up to 50 cm, with more tomentose and undulate, crispate leaves up to 10x4 cm, have been called var. schultesii Koch.