Cynara cornigera, Lindley

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 : 248

4. C. cornigera Lindley in Sibth. & Sm., FI. Graeca 9: 25 (1837)

( C. sibthorpiana Boiss. & Heldr. ).

Stems up to 30 cm, arachnoid-lanate. Leaves mostly basal, up to 40 x 16 cm, broadly oblong, pinnatifid, coriaceous, glabrous and bright green with pale veins above, white-tomentose with prominent veins beneath, petiolate; cauline leaves sessile; segments caudate, with triangular lobes having terminal yellow spines 2-6 mm. Involucre 40-50 mm, subglobose; outer involucral bracts with a slender apical spine c. 5 mm; middle bracts with a cochleariform appendage 8-10 x 10-15 mm, abruptly narrowed into an erecto-patent spine 20-50x 2-4 mm. Corolla yellowish. Achenes 4-5 x 2-5-3 mm; pappus 20-25 mm. S'. Greece and Aegean region. Cr Gr.