Frutex rigidus ramosus, fide collect, cr. 60-120 cm altus. Rami erecti-patentes, in partibus iunioribus leviter araneosi, mox glabrati, usque ad capitula dense et aequaliter foliati internodiis 1(-1.5) mm longis, in partibus vetustioribus cortice fuliginoso obtecti. Folia sessilia, basi lata semiamplexicaulia breviter (cr. 1 mm) decurrentia, ovati-acuminata, marginibus leviter deorsum curvata, per longitudinem usque ad angulum ± rectum (rarius ultra) recurvata vel patentia, crassiuscula et rigidissima, parte decurrenti exclusa 3-5(-6) mm longa, 1.5-2(-3) mm lata, apice in spinam fulvam 1-2 mm longam excurrentia, margine fulva cornea incrassata, utrinque 3-4 spinis ± in iugis dispositis ei in apice similibus solitariis uniseriatis 0.5-1.5 mm longis obsita, supra et subtus glabra, ± nitentia, in axillis spinarum interdum flocculos araneosos gerentia. Capitula in apicibus ramonim solitaria, ligulis expansis (1.5-)2-2.5 cm diam. Involucrum leviter floccosi-araneosum vel glabrum; pars connata cupuliformis, cr. 3-4 mm alta, 3-5 mm lata: squamae parietals lanceolatae vel ovatae, 3-4(-5) mm longae, 1-1.5(-2.5) mm latae, leviter tantum recurvae, ceterum ut folia in spinam excurrentes et margine incrassate spinis obsitae; squamae terminales 1-2-seriatae, ovati-lanceolatae, 4-5 mm longae, 1.5-3 mm latae (singulae seriei intimae minores), apice vix vel breviter spinosae, margine non incrassatae, breviter ciliatae. Achaenia laevia glaberrima.
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Prickly, densely leafy, shrublet, to over 1 m tall, occasionally cobwebby. Leaves sessile, half clasping stem at base, small, ovate to narrowly elliptic, stiff and leathery, recurved, margins yellowish, thickened and spiny, extended into a ± straight, apical spine. Flowerheads radiate, solitary and sessile at branch tips; involucral bracts spine-tipped, margins ciliate; ray and disc florets yellow.
Like C. setosa but to over 1 m. Leaves stiff and leathery, apical spine not reflexed.
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