Carduus personata
Carduus personata is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae.
Etymology
The genus name Carduus is the classical Latin name for "thistle", also the species name derives from Latin.Distribution and habitat
This species mainly occurs in the mountains of Central Europe, in the Alps, the Apennines, in the Carpathians, in the Sudetes and in the Balkans. These plants prefer various moist and fertile soils and environments with debris, in partial shade. They can also be found on the banks of the streams. In the Alps, they can be found at altitudes of.Description
Carduus personata has a sturdy stem with short spines and it is approximately tall. The aerial part of the stem is erect and widely branched upwards. The shape is tubular, striated and ribbed with wings up to the inflorescence. In these plants the thorns are soft and present both on the stem and on the leaves.Leaves are all cauline and are arranged alternately. They are soft, rather narrow and curly, feather-like, the lower ones broadly-shaped and narrowed in the petiole. Middle and upper leaves cover the stem and are lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, sessile, serrated on the edges. The upper side of the leaves is bare or slightly pubescent, where as the lower side is grayish-felted. Lower leaves reach a width of and a length of, where as the width of the median leaves is of, with a length of.
A few sessile flowers. Fruits are bright-brown achenes, with a glabrous surface, about 4 mm long.