Cirsium montanum, (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Sprengel

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 : 238

34. C. montanum (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Sprengel , Syst. Veg. 3: 376 (1826)

( C. tricephalodes auct., non (Lam.) DC.).

Perennial (40-)80-180(-200) cm. Stem simple or sparingly branched above, usually leafless just below apex. Leaves herbaceous, elliptical, pinnatifid, flat, subglabrous; segments narrowly triangular to oblong, dentate to shortly lobed, with weak marginal spinules up to 2 mm. Capitula in apical clusters of 2-8, rarely solitary, usually erect, sometimes exceeded by 1-3 upper leaves. Involucre 15-20 x 14—18(—21) mm; bracts with patent to deflexed apex and conspicuous vittae, with pungent spinule. Corolla 16-25 mm, purple; limb divided to halfway. Achenes 4-5* 5 mm; pappus 15-22 mm. Damp woods and meadows. • S. Alps, N. & C. Appennini, mountains of N. Jugoslavia. Ga It Ju.