| Family | ASTERACEAE |
| Genus species | Cirsium spinosissimum (L.) Scop. trib. Cardueae |
| Bibliography | Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 2: 129 (1771) |
| Native Range | c. & s. Europe |
| Primary Biome | Temperate |
| Habitat | grassland |
| Altitude | 500-3100m |
| Description | leaves in rosette, long, pinnatisect, spinose-dentate, stem leaves sessile, amplexicaule, capitula 2-10 in compact cluster, phyllaries erect, long spinose |
| Size | 20-50cm |
| Color | whitish yellow |
| Bloom | summer |
| Ca | |
| Type | perennial |
| Cultivation | mesic, slightly humous, sunny site alpine house, moist, rich, drained soil, sun |
| Propagation | seed in spring, germ. 1 month, 13-18°C root cuttings in late winter |
| Synonyms | Carduus comosus Lam. Carduus glaber Steud. Carduus spinosissimus (L.) Vill. Carthamus involucratus Lam. Cirsium caput-medusae Schur ex Nyman Cirsium spitzelii Sch.Bip ex Nyman Cirsium purpureum All. Cnicus purpureus (All.) Bertol. Cnicus spinosissimus L. |
| Territory | 1 Europe 11 Middle Europe (AUT Austria, GER Germany, SWI Switzerland) 12 Southwestern Europe (FRA France) 13 Southeastern Europe (ITA Italy, YUG Yugoslavia) |