Carlina acaulis, 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 : 210

10. C. acaulis L. , Sp. Pl. 828 (1753).

Monocarpic perennial. Leaves up to 30 x 6 cm, elliptic-oblong, pinnatifid to pinnatisect with spinose-dentate to -pinnatisect segments, petiolate or subsessile, glabrous or with sparsely arachnoid indumentum beneath. Capitula 25-50 mm in diameter, terminal. Outer involucral bracts 30-50 mm, not or only slightly exceeding the inner; inner bracts 35-45 x 3 mm, silvery-white or pale pink above, tinged with purplish-brown beneath. Florets white to purplish-brown. Receptacular scales with some of the segments davate at apex. Achenes 4-5 mm; pappus c. 13 mm. • From C. France and White Russia southwards to C. Spain and N. Greece. Al Au Cz Ga Ge Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W).