Appendages of lower involucral bracts are lacerate, like in one of the parents, C. jacea. Appendages of middle and upper involucral bracts are pectinate, like in the other parent, C. nigra. As this is a species of hybrid origin, there is plenty of variation, so that it's hard to find two plants that are are exactly alike. It turns out the hybrid knapweed has become very widespread, at least across the Tidmarsh farms territory. It is much more common there than even the invasive spotted knapweed.