Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 827 (1753).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Artichoke thistle, cardoon, Scotch thistle.

Description:
Perennial herb to 1.5 m high; stems branched, striate, sparsely cobwebby; basal leaves forming a rosette, to 75 cm long, to 30 cm wide, lanceolate, pinnatipartite with pinnatifid segments and a small spine on each ultimate lobe, green and pubescent above, white-tomentose below; cauline leaves similar, decreasing in size up the stem.

Capitula erect on peduncles 1-6 cm long, 4.5-6 cm diam.; involucral bracts lanceolate, glabrous, often purplish, tapering into erect to spreading spines; corolla blue, lilac or white.

Achenes 6-8 mm long, shiny, brown-spotted; pappus 2.5-4 cm long, whitish.

Published illustration: Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 71.

Distribution:  A weed of roadsides and pastures.   All States except the N.T.   Native to the Mediterranean region. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Nov. — Feb.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available