''Cirsium spinosissimum'', common name spiniest thistle, is a
European species of
thistle which grows in dry rocky areas. It is found in
France,
Italy,
Germany,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Austria, and the
Balkans.
[Altervista Flora Italiana, Cardo spinosissimo, Spiniest Thistle, ''Cirsium spinosissimum'' (L.) Scop.]
/ref>
The plant is between tall. Leaves, stems, and the sides of the flower head bear long, sharp spines, hence the name of the plant. Flower heads
A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...
contain numerous disc florets but no ray florets, the florets off-white sometimes with a purple tinge.[
]
References
spinosissimum
Flora of Europe
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Taxa named by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
{{Cynareae-stub