Scolymus hispanicus

Erect biennial to perennial, to 90 cm high. Basal leaves petiolate, oblanceolate, 10–30 cm long, 3–7 cm wide, pinnatisect, soft, dark green with paler veins, pubescent; cauline leaves sessile with decurrent bases, linear-oblong to ovate, 4–10 cm long, 1–4 cm wide, pinnatifid, recurved, rigid, grading into involucral bracts, pubescent mostly on veins and margins. Capitula solitary in axils of upper leaves and terminal; involucre 10–15 mm long; outer bracts leaf-like; inner bracts lanceolate, to c. 15 mm long, acute, green with scarious finely ciliate margins; receptacle scales mostly scarious, acute. Florets 20–40, golden-yellow; ligule 10–15 mm long. Cypselas clavate, 3–5 mm long, with a narrow membranous margin or wing, yellowish-brown; pappus of a few rigid bristles. Flowers Nov.–Jan.