Onopordum, Franco. Plant

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 : 246

Sect. Echinata Franco. Plant with multicellular or unicellular hairs. Leaves not reticulately veined beneath. Involucral bracts cochleariform or ovate-lanceolate, abruptly or gradually narrowing into long, rigid, more or less radiate, pungent processes longer or shorter than florets. Corolla-lobes glandular. Pappushairs scabrid.