Blue flower heads are ¾ inches long and are
surrounded by 9-15 involucral bracts which are
unequal in length. Bracts can be entire with a pointed
tip or have sparse spines on the margin. The bracts
create a very unusual and attractive collar around the
teasel-like flower head.
Summer
The alternate leaves are of two types. The basal leaves
are nearly orbicular, 2 inches palmately parted in 3-5
lobes nearly to the leaf base. Leaf segments are 3 and
spinose toothed. Stem leaves are sessile and deeply
dissected. All leaves are veined
