Carduus micropterus subsp. micropterus

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 : 223

(a) Subsp. micropterus ( C. nutans subsp. micropterus (Borbas) Hayek ): Lower leaves up to 12 x2-5 cm, with distant lobes; cauline with 8-10 patent, ovate-lanceolate, entire or slightly lobulate lobes. Outer involucral bracts 1-5-2 mm wide, usually with 4-8 pairs of setae; middle bracts 1| times as long as inner. W. Jugoslavia and Albania.