Carduncellus caeruleus, (L.) C. Presi

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

6. C. caeruleus (L.) C. Presi , FI. Sic. xxx (1826)

( Carthamus caeruleus L. , Kentrophyllum caeruleutn (L.) Gren. & Godron ).

Stem (15-)30-60 cm, simple, rarely branched, with variable lanate-arachnoid indumentum, sometimes glabrescent. Basal and cauline leaves shiny, simple, dentate, or pinnatisect to lyrate with 6-10 pairs of lobes or teeth, the margin and apex spiny; upper cauline leaves ovate-lanceolate. Involucral bracts with short glands, more or less arachnoid-hairy; outer bracts leaf-like, spinose-dentate, as long as or longer than the inner. Achenes c. 6 mm, more or less obpyramidal, inconspicuously angled, narrowed from the middle to the base, rugose towards the apex; pappus-scales ciliate, whitish, l|-2 times as long as the achene, free, persistent. 2« = 24. Mediterranean region (mainly in the west), C. & S. Portugal. BI Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Lu Sa Si.

A very variable species in which leaf-division and indumentum have been used to separate infraspecific taxa. However, no consistent morphological and geographical pattern can be discerned at present and further study is required.