Olgaea thomsonii (Hook.f.) Iljin in Not. Syst. Herb. Hart. Petrop. 2: 142. 1922. Carduus thomsonii Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 361. 1881.

Herbs, robust, 30 - 45 cm high; stems simple, strongly ribbed. Leaves linear-oblong or lanceolate, subpinnatifidly lobed, 15 - 20 cm long, strongly spinous, very coriaceous, shining, broadly auricled at base. Heads few, fascicled or subcorymbose, 7 - 7.5 cm across, inclined, densely woolly. Involucral bracts ca 2.5 cm long, with long, strong, spreading or recurved spine. Receptacular bristles very dense, ca 6 mm long. Corolla very slender, ca 3 cm long, glabrous. Filaments quite glabrous; anther bases very long, laciniate. Achenes ca 6 mm long, glabrous. Pappus hairs up to 3 cm long, stiff, very unequal.

Fl. & Fr. June - Sept.

Distrib. lndia: W. Himalayas, 2800-4000 m. Jammu & Kashmir.

Endemic.