Carduus pycnocephalus L.

Seedling

Cotyledons large, 10-26 x 7-13 mm, elliptic with a slightly indented apex, the main vein visible, petiolate, glabrous. Primordial leaves rosette-shaped, simple, elliptic, attenuated at both ends, with toothed margins bristling with spines, covered with white hairs, short-petiolate. The hypocotyl axis is developed and greenish. The seedling is light green.

Adult plant

Carduus pycnocephalus is an upright, spiny annual plant. The stem is branched, with narrow, clearly interrupted spiny wings, reaching 100 cm in height. Basal leaves in a rosette, sinuate or pennatifid, white-tomentose lower face, strongly thorny, whitish discolouration on certain secondary veins; the upper leaves are narrow and very thorny, decurrent along the stem. Elongated capitula less than 1.3 cm in diameter, small, solitary or clustered by 1-3 on non-winged peduncles. Involucre of bracts cylindrical, lanceolate bracts ending in a broad point, with a scabrous dorsal vein. Florets all tubular, purplish-purple. Achenes ovoid, 4-5 mm long, compressed, with domed disc nipple, greyish, sticky, topped with a pappus of scabrous bristles.

Origin

Carduus pycnocephalus is native to the Mediterranean bassin and Eurasia.

Worldwide distribution

Introduced into Africa (Ethiopia), Srilanka, Australia, the USA and South America (Brazil, Uruguay).

Algeria: Common throughout the Tell area.

https://www.gbif.org/species/3114667