Scolymus 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 : 304

145. Scolymus L. 2

Spiny annual to perennial herbs. Stems solitary, branched. Leaves pinnatifid. Capitula few to numerous. Involucral bracts in several rows. Ligules yellow. Achenes dorsally compressed, tightly enclosed in and adnate to the ovate, slightly winged, deciduous receptacular scales; pappus absent or of a few rigid hairs.

All species occur on waste ground or in other dry, open habitats.

1 Leaves and wings of stem with a strongly thickened white margin; uppermost leaves regularly pectinate-spiny; pappus absent 1. maculatus 1 Leaves and wings of stem without or with only a slightly thickened white margin; uppermost leaves irregularly spiny;

pappus of a few rigid hairs 2 Involucral bracts without or with few hairs, more or less lanceolate, gradually attenuate to an acute apex; receptacular scales narrowed at apex 2. hispanicus 2 Involucral bracts with numerous hairs, ovate-lanceolate to linear-oblong, at least the outer abruptly contracted into a spiny apex; receptacular scales not narrowed at apex

3. grandiflorus