Berkheya echinacea subsp. echinacea (Harv.) O.Hoffm. ex Burtt Davy

Perennial herb, up to 1 m high. Stems erect, winged, softly spinose and with straw-coloured bristles. Leaves densely set all along stem, alternate; large basal leaves (if present) petiolate, upper leaves sessile; blade of basal leaves elliptic or obovate, up to 80(-170) x 50 mm, margins entire, ciliate or spinose ciliate, upper surface with straw-coloured bristles, lower surface nearly glabrous; blade of upper leaves narrowly obovate to narrowly elliptic to almost linear, margins entire, ciliate or spinose dentate; bases decurrent on stem. Heads radiate, up to 60 mm in diameter, solitary or a few corymbosely arranged, pedunculate. Involucral bracts connate at base, linear, up to 2 mm wide, apex and margins spiny, minutely glandular. Flowers: ray and disc florets yellow; Feb. Fruit with cypsela up to 2 mm long, turbinate, villous. Pappus scales biseriate, ± 2 mm long, oblong, obtuse.