Cirsium creticum (Lam.) d’Urv., it is a marshy area slender perennial up to 100 cm. with some fusiform roots. Stem much branched above the middle, narrowly sinuate, winged up to the apex, the short triangular lobes produced into 2-12 mm slender, rigid spines. Leaves coriaceous, strongly undulated, long decurrent, with revolute margins, patent-hirsute and sparsely arachnoid hairy above; patent-pubescent and sparsely to densely arachnoid lanate beneath; lobes with very stout, (2-) 5-1 5 (-20) mm spines. Median cauline leaves 8-20 x 2.5-8 cm, attenuate, usually pinnatifid into distant, 2(-3)-fid lateral lobes; with broad, serrate spinulose sinuses; terminal lobe linear-lanceolate. Upper cauline leaves linear lanceolate, sub entire except for spinulose serration. Capitula in small terminal clusters or racemose-paniculate on inflorescence branches, shortly pedunculate to sub sessile. Involucre hemispherical-campanulate, 12-17 x 7-10 mm. Involucral bracts 6-8 rowed, erect, with patent spines, without vittae. Outer & middle involucral bracts ovate to oblong-ovate, arachnoid-ciliate, obtuse, with apices somewhat dark coloured and with 0.4-1 (-1.5) mm apical spines, (middle ones with suborbicular appendages). Florets purple. Corolla (10-) 14-17 (-18) mm. Cypsela 2.5-3.5 mm, smooth, pale-brown; pappus 10-13 mm.
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