Centaurea iberica, Trev. ex Sprengel

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 : 282

147. C. iberica Trev. ex Sprengel , Syst. Veg. 3: 406 (1826).

Stems up to 100 cm, ascending to erect, divaricately branched in lower half. Leaves greenish, hispidulous, with denticulate, setulose margin; lower runcinate-to lyrate-pinnatisect, the lobes ovate to linear-lanceolate; upper lanceolate. Capitula subsessile, surrounded by upper leaves. Involucre 8-14 mm in diameter, ovoid; bracts indistinctly veined, with scarious margin; appendages scarious, the apical spine 15-30 mm, stout, patent, sulcate, usually with 1-3 basal spines c. 3 mm. Florets deep purple, glandular, the outer slightly patent. Achenes c. 3 mm; pappus 2-2-5 mm. S.E. Europe, extending to W. Romania. Bu Gr Ju Rm Rs (K).