Onopordum illyricum L.

Herb to 2 m high. Stems densely arachnoid-tomentose; wings 3–15 mm wide. Leaves grey, with dense arachnoid tomentum on both surfaces; stalked glandular hairs absent, sessile glands absent or obscured; marginal spines 4–10 mm long, yellow-brown. Capitula solitary, on 5–25 cm long peduncles; involucre oblate to globose, 30–60 mm diam. excluding patent bracts; median involucral bracts patent, deltate, 25–40 mm long, 4.5–7 mm wide, entire, glabrous. Corolla purple; tube 21–26 mm long; lobes 9–12 mm long, glandular. Anthers 12–14 mm long. Achenes cuneiform, 4-angled, 4.1–6.5 mm long, without longitudinal ribs, but with numerous prominent transverse wrinkles, brown. Pappus bristles barbellate, 61–93, 6–11 mm long.

Grows in pastures, paddocks and disturbed areas.

The seeds have been ground and used as coffee. The flower buds are cooked and eaten like a globe artichoke. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The inner part of the roots is eaten raw.

Can be grown by seedlings.