Carduus pycnocephalus L., Sp. Pl. 1151. 1753.

Herbs, annual up to 1 m high. Stems simple or branched, white greyish tomentose above, winged; wings dentate, lobed, spiny. Basal leaves obovate; lobes rounded; cauline laneolate or oblanceolate, lyrate-pinnatifid, decurrent at base ca 14 x 7 cm, sparsely hairy above, whitish tomentose beneath; lobes spinuous. Heads ca 1.5 - 2 cm across, cylindrical. Involucral bracts imbricate, hairy, 5 - 7-seriate. Receptacular bristles ca 1 cm long. Corolla ca 1.5 cm long, purple or white. Achenes ca 5 mm long. Pappus ca 1.5 cm long.

Fl. & Fr. Feb. May.

Distrib. India: Jammu & Kashmir.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Middle to S. Europe, and S.W. Asia.