Carlina vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

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 : 210

(a) Subsp. vulgaris :

Stem usually 15-30 cm, simple or variously branched. Cauline leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate, undulate, with strong spines in which the lateral veins terminate. Capitula 15-25 mm in diameter, usually numerous. Outer involucral bracts lanceolate, shorter than the inner. Throughout the range of the species except for most of the U.S.S.R.