Centaurea sintenisiana

Biennial , almost napiform taproot. Stem thick, tall, 60–100 cm , lower half ± hirsute, long hairy, above scabridulous, subglabrous; in the upper branches few, with mono or few heads. Leaves sparsely articulated, especially lower surface hirsute, on the upper surface often subglabrous; the lower petiolate, lyrate or pinnatisect-sublyrate, enough or numerous intermixed a few small segments of the lobes, lanceolate, remote and irregularly dentate, sometimes lyrate ; the middle leaves same of the lower parts, but smaller ones, sessile. Involucre subglobose, truncate base, 25–30 x 25–30 mm; phyllaries multiseriate, virescens, basal part of phyllaries not covered by appendages; appendages brown, decurrent, base triangular, gradually tapering into spine, 20–30 mm , base 4–6 mm , ciliate, cilia 3–5 mm. Flowers purple or rosy-purple. Achenes 5.5–6 mm, immature almost silky-hairy, later glabrescens. Pappus 6–9 mm.