Flora of North America species comparison

1–several, erect, proximally simple, distally branched, ± densely gray-tomentose;

branches 0–many, ascending to spreading.

1, erect, puberulent to pilose with jointed trichomes, sometimes also thinly arachnoid;

branches 0–many, ascending, often nodding at tips.

blades oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 10–60 × 2–15 cm, unlobed and merely spinulose or spiny-dentate or shallowly to deeply pinnatifid, lobes linear-lanceolate to ovate-triangular, spreading, entire to coarsely dentate, main spines slender to stout, 3–30 mm, faces ± gray-tomentose, sometimes ± glabrate;

basal often present at flowering, winged-petiolate;

principal cauline decreasing distally, proximal winged-petiolate, distal sessile, bases decurrent as spiny wings 1–5 cm;

distalmost well separated, bractlike.

blades oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 10–30 × 2–5 cm, margins flat to undulate, spinulose and otherwise entire to coarsely dentate or shallowly to deeply pinnatifid, lobes well separated, spinulose to coarsely few-dentate, main spines slender to stout, 1–15 mm, one or both faces thinly pilose, sometimes thinly arachnoid, green and ± glabrescent at maturity;

basal usually absent at flowering, sessile or winged-petiolate;

principal cauline well distributed, proximal absent at flowering, moderately reduced distally, winged-petiolate or sessile (proximal), sessile and auriculate-clasping to slightly decurrent 0–2 cm;

distal well developed, spreading, lobed or unlobed.

0–15 cm.

0–4 cm.

ovoid to hemispheric, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–2 cm, loosely arachnoid on phyllary margins or glabrate.

hemispheric to subspheric, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–3 cm, glabrous to finely arachnoid and/or pilose, often long pilose-ciliate with arachnoid trichomes connecting adjacent phyllaries.

white to pink or lavender, 16–25 mm, tubes 7–12 mm, throats 4–7 mm, lobes 4–8 mm, style tips 3–4 mm.

ochroleucous to ± yellow (rarely white or purple), 11–17 mm, tubes 5.5–11 mm, throats 2–4 mm, lobes 3–5 mm;

style tips 2–4 mm.

in 5–8 series, imbricate, (inner greenish to brown or stramineous), lanceolate or ovate (outer) to linear-lanceolate (inner), entire, abaxial faces with narrow glutinous ridge;

outer and middle appressed, spines spreading, 3–7 mm;

apices of inner often flexuous, flattened, spineless, scabrid.

in 5–8 series, imbricate to subequal, proximally greenish, distally darker, becoming brownish, linear to narrowly lanceolate, outer often nearly as long as inner, abaxial faces with poorly developed glutinous ridge;

outer and mid bases appressed, apices loosely ascending to spreading, bodies entire to spiny-ciliate or terminal appendages expanded, ± scarious, pectinately fringed, spines straight, 2–6 mm;

apices of inner flat or spine-tipped, sometimes expanded and fimbriate.

1–many, in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays.

1–many, ± erect, loosely to densely clustered at tip of main stem and branches in subcapitate to racemiform arrays, often also in distal leaf axils, closely subtended by clusters of unlobed to deeply dissected, often very spiny bracts.

stramineous to dark brown, 3–6 mm, apical collars 0.2–0.3 mm, yellowish;

pappi 14–16 mm.

tan to dark brown, 4–6 mm, apical collars narrow, not differently colored;

pappi 9–15 mm.

= 30, 32.

= 34.