Flora of North America species comparison

1 or few, erect, densely gray-tomentose;

branches 0 to several, ascending to spreading.

erect, villous with septate trichomes and sometimes thinly arachnoid tomentose;

branches 0–few, distal, 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.

blades oblong-elliptic, 5–30+ × 2–10 cm, ± undulate, shallowly to deeply pinnatifid, lobes ovate to broadly triangular, usually separated by broad sinuses, spinose-dentate or lobed, main spines 1.5–7 mm, slender to stout, abaxial faces villous with septate trichomes, at least along veins, sometimes thinly arachnoid, adaxial faces villous with septate trichomes and thinly arachnoid tomentose or subglabrous;

basal often present at flowering, bases tapered;

principal cauline sessile, moderately reduced distally, bases often auriculate-clasping;

distal reduced, similar to proximal.

0–5 cm.

0–15+ cm (above distal leaves), leafy-bracted.

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

broadly cylindric to ovoid, 3.5–5 cm, 2.5–3 cm diam. (appearing much wider and hemispheric to campanulate in pressed specimens), loosely arachnoid on phyllary margins or glabrate.

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.

pink to purple (white), 40–60 mm, tubes 20–35 mm, throats 11–15 mm, lobes 7–10 mm;

style tips 3–7 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 8–10 series, imbricate, ovate or lanceolate (outer) to lance-linear (inner), abaxial faces with ± prominent glutinous ridge, outer and middle appressed, apices ascending to spreading, spines 1.5–6 mm;

apices of middle and inner narrowed and scabrid-denticulate, innermost spineless, tapered and entire or with expanded, erose-denticulate, flexuous tips.

1–20+ in corymbiform arrays.

1–few, borne singly at tips of main stem and branches, often closely subtended by 1–several bracts.

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.

stramineous to brown, 3.5–5 mm, apical collars yellow or colored like body;

pappi 35–45 mm.

= 34.

= 30.