Cretan Thistle

Description:

Cirsium creticum is a biennial thistle of Italy, Greece, the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey. This is a plant, usually found in higher altitudes or on river banks, that has long, slender dark green stems, all covered with long spines, and clusters of very small flower heads. The leaves higher on the stems are deeply lobed compared to those at the base. In Greece there are another two subspecies.

Notes:

Synonym: Cirsium polyanthemum. Greek name: Κίρσιο το κρητικό. Greek common names: Γομαράγκαθο, Γαϊδουράγκαθο.