The names of the Italian taxa in Cirsium sect. Eriolepis are discussed. The accepted names are: Cirsium echinatum, C. eriophorum subsp. eriophorum, C. eriophorum subsp. spathulatum, C. ferox, C. italicum, C. lacaitae, C. lobelii, C. morisianum, C. scabrum, C. tenoreanum, C. vallis-demonii subsp. vallis-demonii, C. vallis-demonii subsp. calabrum comb. nov., and C. vulgare (= C. crinitum, C. sylvaticum). Four accepted names are typified by specimens preserved at FI (one lectotype), G (one lectotype and one neotype), P (one lectotype), and by illustrations (two lectotypes). Several other heterotypic synonyms of taxa described from Italy are discussed and six of them are typified. A new combination and status are proposed: C. vallis-demonii subsp. calabrum, based on C. eriophorum var. vallis-demonii f. calabrum.
Keywords: Carduinae; Carduus; Cnicus; Epitrachys; Italian endemic plants; Lacaita; L’Obel; Mediterranean flora; Petrak; Tenore; taxonomy; typification.