Wenatchee thistle

Heads mostly borne singly. Peduncles 10–30 cm. Involucres 3–4 × 4–5 cm, moderately arachnoid. Phyllary apices widely spreading, long-acicular, spines 5–15 mm. Corollas 29–33 mm, tubes 9–11 mm, throats 8–12 mm, lobes 9–10 mm; style tips 3–4 mm. Cypselae dark brown, 4.5–6 mm; pappi 20–25 mm.

Flowering summer (Jul–Aug). Stream banks, rocky slopes; of conservation concern; 600–1200 m; Wash.

Variety wenatchense is known only from the Wenatchee Mountains of central Washington. Little is known of its ecology.