Description: Annual herb.
Leaves alternate, occasionally rosette forming, tough, minutely spinose-toothed.
Heads solitary, surrounded by the upper leaves, ovoid; involucral bracts ovate-lanceolate, the outer mucronate-subulate, the inner longer and with a pectinate, spine-like apical appendage; receptacle with numerous bristle-like scales. Florets all tubular, yellow; inner florets bisexual, 5-lobed; outer florets very small, sterile. Anthers tailed at base. Style slightly thickened near point of bifurcation.
Achenes ± cylindrical, ribbed, sparsely hairy, with an oblong lateral scar and crowned by a toothed rim; pappus 2 rows of bristles, the outer long and minutely scabrid, the inner much shorter, ciliate.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 1 species, Mediterranean region. Australia: 1 species (naturalized).
Text by L. Murray
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Cnicus benedictus |
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