Carduus crispus L., Sp. Pl. 821. 1753.

Herbs, biennial up to ca 1 m high, sparsely hairy, winged; wings ca 5 mm wide, triangular with an apical spinula. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, glabrescent above, hairy or glabrescent beneath, lobed or crenate-dentate. Heads ca 1.5 - 2 cm across, subglobose, usually in clusters of 2 - 4; peduncles narrowly winged, up to ca 8 cm long. Involucral bracts imbricate, linear-subulate recurved at apex. Corolla ca 1.5 cm long. Achenes ca 4 mm long. Pappus ca 1 cm long.

Fl. & Fr. July Sept.

Distrib. India: W. Himalayas. Jammu & Kashmir.

Europe.