The flowers are produced in a large (up to 10 cm) flowerhead of silvery-white ray florets around a central disc.

To protect the pollen, the head closes in wet weather, a phenomenon folklore holds to presage forthcoming rain.

It prefers chalky soils and dry pastures in environments from valleys up to an altitude of 2,800 m. There are two subspecies:[1] The rhizome contains a number of essential oils, in particular the antibacterial carlina oxide.

[5] While young, the flowerhead bud can be cooked and eaten in a similar manner to the Globe artichoke, which earned it the nickname of hunter's bread.

In Basque culture it was traditionally used as symbol of good fortune, fixed into the frontal door of the house and was given by the goddess Mari.