Mediterranean sea holly; Cardo panical

Perennial herb, glabrous, thorny, usually blue, at least the stems and inflorescences. Stems erect, up to 45 cm in height. Leaves basal of 3-7 cm, divided in 3 segments, thorny. Sessile flowers grouped in hemispheric chapters protected by an involucre of spiny bracts which surpass the chapters. The fruit is formed by two mericarps. It blooms at end of spring and during the summer..