Cnicus L.

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 : 301

142. Cnicus L. 1

Annual herbs. Leaves alternate, subcoriaceous, minutely spinosedentate. Capitula solitary, surrounded by the upper leaves. Involucre ovoid; bracts imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, the outer mucronate-subulate, the inner longer and with a pectinate, spinelike apical appendage. Receptacular scales numerous, setaceous. Inner florets hermaphrodite; outer florets very small, sterile. Corolla yellow. Achenes subcylindrical, ribbed, sparsely hairy, with an oblong lateral scar and crowned by a dentate ring; pappus of 2 rows of 10 setae, the outer long, minutely scabrid, the inner much shorter, ciliate.