Carduus kerneri subsp. kerneri

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 : 229

(b) Subsp. kerneri :

Wings of stem triangular or palmate, with an apical spine 1 - 5-2 mm. Lower leaves up to 14 x 3 cm, with c. 14 pairs of semi-hastate lobes each with an apical spine 1 -5-2-5 mm. Peduncle 15-30 cm, sparsely arachnoid-hairy; capitula 20-25 x 20-40 mm, subglobose; involucral bracts subacute to subobtuse, with a spine O-3-O-5 mm, with the mid-vein raised throughout its length; inner bracts acute. Up to 1800 m. S. & E. Carpathians.