Pollen morphology of fifty nine species representing seventeen genera of tribe Cardueae (Cichorioideae‐Compositae) was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Generally the investigated pollen grains are 3‐zonocolporate to 3‐zonocolpororate rarely 4‐zonocolpororate while there are shapes commonly oblate‐spheroidal to suboblate, with some prolate‐spheroidal to subprolate pollen. Four pollen types were recognized: Onopordum pollen type, Notobasis pollen type, Carthamus pollen type and Carlina pollen type. Descriptions, a key, plus LM and SEM are given. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)