Cirsium ciliatum, Moench

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 : 237

23. C. ciliatum Moench , Meth., Suppl. 227 (1802).

Biennial or perennial (50-) 100-150 cm. Middle leaves broadly auriculatesemiamplexicaul, decurrent for c. 1 cm, sparsely to densely arachnoid-lanate beneath; lobes narrowly oblong to linearlanceolate, with slender apical spine 2-7(-10) mm. Capitula few, long-pedunculate to subsessile, with 1-3 subtending leaves shorter than capitulum. Involucre 30-35 x (20-)30-40 mm, glabrous or subglabrous; bracts gradually narrowed from base to apex, with densely pectinate, rigid marginal spines 1-1-5 mm and slender apical spine 2-7 mm; outer numerous, in many rows, sharply deflexed; middle patent to erecto-patent, without ventral spinules. Corolla 24-30 mm, purple. Achenes 4-5-5-5 mm; pappus 20-26 mm. S. part of U.S.S.R. Rs (C, W, E).

C. ukranicum Besser ex DC. , Prodr. 6: 635 (1838), recorded from the S.W. part of U.S.S.R., is of doubtful status. It is intermediate between 23 and 24 inmany characters and may be a hybrid between 23 (or 24) and 20.