Carduus thoermeri, Weinm.

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

4. C. thoermeri Weinm. , Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou 10(7): 69 (1837)

( C. nutans auch, non L., C. leiophyllus Petrovič ).

Up to 150 cm; stem glabrous to sparsely arachnoid-hairy; wings up to 12 mm, triangular-dentate, with an apical spine up to 10 mm. Leaves glabrous, or with sparse, short, crispate multicellular hairs beneath, with 4-8 pairs of broadly triangular lobes, each with an apical spine up to 8 mm. Capitula 35-50 x 60-80 mm, depressed-globose; involucral bracts oblong below and distinctly widened into a flat, ovate-lanceolate to ovate appendage 10-22 x 4-8 mm, with apical spine 1 -5-6 mm; inner bracts 1 - to 3-veined, as long as or slightly longer than inner middle. Corolla 24-36 mm. Achenes 5-6 mm, compressed; pappus 18-26 mm. Dry pastures and waste places. E.C., E. & S.E. Europe) casual in N. Europe and perhaps becoming naturalized. Al Bu Gr Hu Ju Rm Rs (C, W,?K,?E) Tu.