Carduus edelbergii Rech. f. in K. Danske Vide Selsk. Biol. Skr. 8(2) Symb. Afghan. 2: 175. 1955. C. lucidus Wallich nom. nude C. edelbergii Rech. f. subsp. lanatus Kazmi in Mitt. B. Staatssamm. Munchen 5: 344. 1964. C. nutans (auct. non L.) Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 361. 1881.

Biennial, 30 - 100 cm (-2m) high, stout. Stems interruptedly winged; wings spinulous. Leaves very variable pinnatifid, entire, waved spinous, 5 - 30 x 1.5 - 4.5 cm. Heads 2.5 - 4 cm across, solitary or fascicled. Involucre hemispheric or subcampanulate; involucral bracts subulate-lanceolate, usually spiny at tip, reflexed, 1 - 1.8 cm long. Flowers ca 2 cm long, pink or dark purple. Achenes pale-brown, ca 5 mm long, glabrous, granulate. Pappus ca 1.5 cm long, dull white.

Fl. & Fr. June Aug.

Distrib. India: W. Himalayas. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Notes. According to some authors the Himalayan species is intermediate between C. nutans and C. crispus (C. acanthoides Sm .).