Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass.

Herb to 0.7 m high. Stems thinly pilose with arachnoid hairs. Leaves green and glabrous above, sparsely arachnoid-hairy below; sessile glands absent; spines 3–12 mm long, yellowish white. Capitula 1–4 in terminal or lateral clusters; involucre broadly ovoid, 15–20 mm diam. at anthesis; median involucral bracts suberect, lanceolate, 8–15 mm long, 2–3 mm wide at base, entire, spinose at apex, glabrous or sparsely arachnoid dorsally. Corolla purple; tube c. 12 mm long; lobes 3–6 mm long. Anthers 6–8 mm long. Achenes 5–6.5 mm long, brown to grey. Pappus bristles 65–80, 13–17 mm long.

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in dry soils. It can grow in arid places.

The young leaves and stems are eaten raw or boiled. They are eaten with bread and goat's cheese. The stems are peeled.