Carduus macrocephalus, Desf.

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 : 222

1. C. macrocephalus Desf. , FI. Atl. 2; 245 (1799).

Biennial. Stem greyish-arachnoid-hairy; wings up to 5 mm, triangular-acute. Leaves more or less densely arachnoid-hairy, with short, crispate multicellular hairs, with 6-10(-12) pairs of lobes, each with an apical spine up to 12 mm. Outer and middle involucral bracts recurved or patent in their distal |, 3-5 mm wide at base, with a prominent mid-vein above the constriction, tapering to a rigid spine up to 7 mm; inner bracts as long as inner middle. Achenes compressed, rugulose; apical prominence shortly stipitate. Roadsides and waste places. C. & E. Mediterranean region. Gr It Ju Sa Si.

1 Involucral bracts 15-25 mm, distinctly shorter than florets; wings of stem entire, with apical spine not more than 5 mm

(c) subsp. siculus 1 Involucral bracts 25-45 mm, as long as or longer than florets; wings of stem usually 3-partite, with apical spine not more than 10 mm

2 Involucral bracts recurved, conduplicate-canaliculate in distal I (a) subsp. macrocephalus 2 Involucral bracts appressed-patent, flat (b) subsp. sporadum