*Carthamus lanatus 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