Carthamus L.
Longest involucral bracts 30–40 mm long, with spinescent lobes or spines up to 10 mm long. Leaves deeply lobed or pinnatifid; the lobes ending in spines. Involucre 2–3 cm diam. Corolla yellow. Cypselas 6 mm long. Pappus of scales. Annual herb up to 80 cm high, sometimes slightly woolly. Widespread. Weed of pastures and waste places. Introd. from Europe; Africa and Asia. Fl. summer. Saffron Thistle Carthamus lanatus
Longest involucral bracts c. 15 mm long, with spines c. 2 mm long. Leaves oblong or ovate to lanceolate, with minute spines; the upper ones stem-clasping. Involucre 2–4 cm diam. Corollas orange-yellow. Cypselas 6 mm long. Weed near habitation, Cultivated for seed-oil. Introd. from Europe and Asia. Fl. summer–autumn. Safflower Carthamus tinctorius