Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems 2-4 mm diam., < 40 cm long; erect stems c. 2 mm diam., < 15 cm long. Lvs 2-8-(15) cm long; stipules entire or 2-3-fid; leaflets 11-17, obovate or oblong, 7-20 × 4-12 mm, 9-14-toothed, glabrous or sparsely hairy and green on upper surface, pilose and subglaucous on lower surface; teeth reddish purple. Scape 3-10 cm long at flowering, 11-21 cm long at fruiting, red, glabrous to pilose; capitulum c. 12 mm diam. at flowering, 1-3 cm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 80-100; sepals 4-5; stamens 2-4-(5); anthers dark red; style 1, dark red; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 5 mm long, glabrous or pilose at apex; ribs dilated; spines 4, red, (1)-8 mm long, barbed; minute spines occasionally present between main ones.
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