Carduus pycnocephalus
L. Slender ThistleAnnual to 80 cm high; stems with discontinuous wings to c. 5 mm wide and spinose lobes to 5 mm wide, cobwebbed. Basal leaves in a sparse rosette, oblanceolate in outline, 5–20 cm long, 2–8 cm wide, deeply pinnatisect, margins spiny, upper surface green and pubescent, lower surface white-cobwebbed; cauline leaves similar but smaller, stem-clasping. Inflorescence of 1–3 capitula in terminal clusters; capitula cylindric, erect, c. 10 mm diam.; peduncles 3–40 mm long, terete; involucral bracts linear-lanceolate, to 20 mm long, erect; dorsal surface of intermediate involucral bracts covered with minute antrorse hairs; inner bracts slightly shorter than florets. Corolla 10–17 mm long, pinkish-purple. Cypselas 4–5 mm long; pappus bristles subequal, 10–14 mm long. Flowers mainly spring and summer.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas., New Zealand. Native to Europe. A widespread and common weed, largely co-extensive with C. tenuiflorus and found in similar situations; declared a noxious weed in Victoria.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Asteraceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 652–666. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
