Carduus pycnocephalus

Italian Thistle

Pictures of Carduus pycnocephalus (Italian Thistle)

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Common names

Italian Thistle.

Scientific name

Carduus pycnocephalus L.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Carduus pycnocephalus is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, 30 to 150 cm high. The flower heads are cylindrical, one and a half to two times longer than wide, easily falling off after flowering. Stem wings up to 4 mm wide, with spines up to 16 mm. The leaf lobes with thorns up to 8 mm. Middle bracts 2-4 mm wide, shorter than the inner ones. Blooms May-August^{1, 2}.

Distribution in Bulgaria

Native in Bulgaria in the next floristic regions: Black Sea coast, Eastern Rhodopes, Northeastern Bulgaria, Struma Valley, Strandzha, Tundzha hilly plain and Thracian lowland; from 0 to 300 meters above sea level³.

References

[1] Красимир Тодоров. 2018. Биосистематично проучване на род Carduus L. (Asteraceae) в България (Автореферат). Пловдивски университет. Пловдив.

[2] Делипавлов, Д., И. Чешмеджиев, М. Попова, Д. Терзийски, И. Ковачев. 2003. Определител на растенията в България. Аграрен университет. Пловдив.

[3] Красимир Тодоров. 2018. Пос. източник.

Carduus pycnocephalus на български

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