Cirsium heldreichii, Halacsy

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 : 235

2. C. heldreichii Halácsy , Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 40: 114 (1890).

Biennial 15-100 cm. Stem sparsely arachnoid-lanate to lanatefioccose. Leaf-lobes linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, with strong apical spine 6-25 mm. Capitula solitary or in a sparingly branched corymb, with 2-6 narrow subtending leaves equalling or somewhat exceeding capitulum. Involucre 25-35 x 20-40(-60) mm; middle bracts gradually narrowed to the cartilaginous, densely spinose-serrulate apex, with slender apical spine 2-6 mm. Corolla 27-30 mm, usually white. Achenes 5-6 mm; pappus 19-25 mm. • Mountains of Greece. Gr.

A rather variable species; the following subspecies seem doubtfully distinct.