Print Fact SheetCarthamus lanatus

Taxonomy

Carthamus lanatus L., Sp. Pl. 2:830. 1753

Common synonyms

Anactis pilosa Raf. ; Atractylis fusus-agrestis Gaertn. ; Atractylis lanata Scop. ; Atractylis leucocephala Moench ; Atractylis lutea Bubani ; Atractylis pilosa Moench ; Calcitrapa lanuginosa Steud. ; Carduncellus lanatus Moris ; Carduus attractylis Garsault ; Carthamus albus Desf. ; Carthamus elatus (Gasp.) Nyman ; Carthamus exsuccus Chaix ; Carthamus lanatus var. algeriensis Batt. ; Carthamus lanatus var. lanatus ; Carthamus macedonicus Herzog ; Carthamus tauricus M.Bieb. ; Carthamus turbinatus Nyman ; Cathamus lanatus L. ; Centaurea lanata (L.) Lam. & DC. ; Kentrophyllum elatum Gasp. ; Kentrophyllum lanatum (L.) DC. ; Kentrophyllum lanatum DC. ex Duby ; Kentrophyllum lanatum subsp. lanatum ; Kentrophyllum lanatum var. lanatum ; Kentrophyllum tauricum (M.Bieb.) C.A.Mey. ; Kentrophyllum turbinatum Gasp. ; Kentrophyllum turbinatum Gasp. ex Guss. ; Onobroma lanata (L.) Hornem.

Common name

(Woolly) distaff thistle, downy safflower, saffron thistle

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 4-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, rarely suddenly cut off (truncate), in cross-section flattened or angular (prismatic), basal scar (carpopodium) inconspicuous and undifferentiated, off to the side (oblique) or at least asymmetric, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw, smooth (except at cellular level), with no hairs (glabrous), thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs absent.

Pappus type wide flat bristles / hairs or long slender scales, pappus clearly differentiated into elements of different lengths, up to 6.5-11 mm long, in several rows, pappus elements numerous, persistent, the individual bristles rough / serrated (barbellate), +/- equal width along length, brown.

Ecology

Annual herb, seeds wind-dispersed. Mediterranean to warm-temperate regions. Weed of pastures, in particular if they are overgrazed or have relatively open vegetation cover, or of grain crops. Wool contaminant.

Native range

Mediterranean, western Asia

Introduced range

United States, Chile, Argentina, Ethiopia, South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand