Carthamus lanatus
distaff thistle, saffron thistle, woolly distaff thistle, woolly safflower-thistle
rigidly erect, openly branched distally, stramineous.
basal and cauline;
basal often absent at anthesis, petioles winged, blades 10–15 cm, margins pinnately 1–2-divided into linear or lanceolate spine-tipped lobes;
cauline spreading or recurved, lanceolate to ovate, rigid, clasping, 3–7-veined from base, margins with narrow spine-tipped lobes, spinose-acuminate.
ovoid, body 25–35 mm, usually ± tomentose.
yellow, sometimes red- or black-veined, 25–35 mm, throats gradually expanded;
anthers yellow;
pollen yellow.
ascending or ± spreading, 35–50 mm, usually not more than 1.5 times as long as inner, terminal appendages spreading to ascending, linear-lanceolate, spiny lobed, prominently spine-tipped.
brown, 4–6 mm, the outer roughened;
pappus scales 1–13 mm.
= 44.
Carthamus lanatus
Native to the Mediterranean region, Carthamus lanatus is a viciously spiny noxious weed, sometimes forming nearly impenetrable stands. In rangelands it is known to injure the eyes and mouths of livestock, and it tends to spread when more palatable plants are consumed. Because of the close relationship between the cultivated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and its weedy relatives, biocontrol has not been an option for controlling weedy species such as C. lanatus.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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