Flora of North America species comparison

1 or few, erect, densely gray-tomentose;

branches 0 to several, ascending to spreading.

1–several, erect, thinly gray-tomentose with fine, non-septate trichomes;

branches 0–many, ascending.

blades elliptic to obovate, 10–30 × 8–14 cm, deeply divided nearly to midveins, lobes ascending to spreading, linear, remote, margins revolute, entire or minutely spinulose, main spines 1–2 mm, faces gray-tomentose, more densely so abaxially;

basal present or withered at flowering, petiolate;

principal cauline well distributed, bases decurrent as linear-lobed to spiny wings 1–3 cm;

distal cauline well developed.

oblanceolate or elliptic, 15–45 × 2–10 cm, unlobed and merely spinulose to dentate or deeply pinnatifid, lobes well separated, linear to triangular-ovate, merely spinulose to few toothed or lobed near base, margins often revolute, main spines 2–3(–6) mm, abaxial faces densely gray-tomentose, adaxial green, thinly tomentose or ± glabrate;

basal often present at flowering, narrowly winged-petiolate;

principal cauline well distributed, gradually reduced distally, bases of proximal cauline winged-petiolate or sessile, bases of distal cauline expanded and ± clasping, margins sometimes spinier than those of proximal;

distalmost cauline becoming bractlike, often unlobed or less deeply divided than proximal.

0–5 cm.

1–8 cm.

ovoid to campanulate, 2–3 × 2–3 cm, loosely arachnoid on phyllary margins or glabrate.

hemispheric to campanulate, 2.5–3.5 × 2–4 cm, glabrous or loosely floccose.

dull white or pinkish-tinged (rarely rich purple), 20–30 mm, tubes 8.5–15 mm, throats 4.5–10 mm, lobes 3–8 mm;

style tips 3.5–5.5 mm.

creamy white, rarely lavender-tinged, 22–28 mm, tubes 8–13 mm, throats 7–11 mm, lobes 4–6 mm;

style tips 5–6 mm.

in 6–8 series, imbricate, ovate-lanceolate (outer) to linear-lanceolate (inner), abaxial faces with narrow glutinous ridge;

outer and middle appressed, acute, spines ascending to spreading, slender, 1–2(–3) mm;

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

in 6–10 series, strongly imbricate, greenish to brown, ovate to lanceolate (outer) to linear (inner), abaxial faces with prominent glutinous ridge;

outer and middle appressed, bodies entire, spines abruptly spreading, fine, 2–3(–5) mm;

apices of inner commonly flexuous or reflexed, flat, scarious.

1–20+ in corymbiform arrays.

borne singly and terminal on main stems and branches or few from distal axils in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays.

light brown, sometimes with darker streaks, 6–7.5 mm, apical collars lighter colored, very narrow;

pappi 15–30 mm, usually noticeably shorter than corolla.

brown, 5–6 mm, apical collars yellowish, 0.5–1 mm;

pappi 18–22 mm.

= 34.

= 22, 26.