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5 Larger spines of the middle and outer phyllaries 5-9 mm long; marginal and central flowers of the head with pappus | |
5 Larger spines of the middle and outer phyllaries 11-22 mm long; marginal flowers of the head lacking pappus | |
10 Phyllary appendages roundish (seldom triangular), scarious, light to dark brown, undivided to irregularly lacerate | |
10 Phyllary appendages more-or-less triangular, brown to black, more-or-less wholly pectinate-margined. | |
11 Heads discoid (the peripheral florets not expanded and showy); pappus blackish, < 1 mm long; green parts of phyllaries nearly or completely covered by black appendages, the involucres thus appearing totally black | |
11 Heads radiate (the peripheral florets expanded and showy); pappus absent or rudimentary (when present usually not black); green part of phyllaries sometimes evident, or the appendages light to dark brown. | |
12 Heads relatively broad, the pressed involucres usually as wide as or wider than long; green parts of phyllaries usually covered by brown, variously pectinate fimbriate appendages, the involucres thus light to dark brown | |
12 Heads relatively narrow, the pressed involucres usually longer then wide; green parts of phyllaries not fully covered by black appendages, the involucres black and green |