Cirsium helenioides, (L.) Hill

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 : 240

47. C. helenioides (L.) Hill , Hort. Kew. 64 (1768)

( C. heterophyllum (L.) Hill ).

Perennial (30-)40-100(-150) cm, with subterranean stolons. Stem simple or sparingly branched above, usually leafless towards the apex. Leaves herbaceous, flat, auriculate-semiamplexicaul, not decurrent, lanceolate to broadly oblong, entire or lobed to pinnatifid, glabrous or subglabrous above, white-arachnoid-tomentose beneath; segments narrowly triangular to oblong-lanceolate, entire to dentate, with soft spinules up to 2 mm. Capitula solitary, pedunculate, rarely in apical clusters of 2-4(-6), subsessile. Involucre (18-)20-28(-32) x (17-)2O-35(-4O) mm; bracts erect, with weak spinule up to 1 mm and distinct vittae; outermost acute; middle with obtuse to suborbicular, appendiculate, scarious-margined apex; inner with lanceolate, membranous appendage. Corolla (20-)25-30 mm, purple. Achenes 3-5 mm; pappus (18-)22-26(-32) mm, inner setae expanded at apex. 2n —c. 34. Damp grassland and scrub; somewhat calcifuge. At low altitudes in N. Europe and E. part of U.S.S.R.; mountain ranges of Europe southwards to the Pyrenees and Transylvania. Au Br Cz Da Fe Ga Ge Hb He?Hs It?Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E) Su [Is].