Centaurea rupestris, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 265

22. C. rupestris L. , Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1298 (1763).

Stems 5-50(-70) cm, simple or sparingly branched above. Leaves sublanate, glabrescent, scabrid, (l-)2-pinnatisect, rarely undivided or lyrate; segments up to 2 mm wide, acute, numerous. Involucre 12-15 mm in diameter; bracts ovate; appendages brown, often with an apical spine. Florets pale yellow to orange, the outer slightly longer than the inner. Achenes c. 4 mm; pappus as long as achene. 2n —20. Dry grassland and rocky places. • Italy, W. & C. parts of Balkan peninsula. Bu Gr It Ju.

1 Stem leafy above; leaf-segments broadly linear to lanceolate; plant grey-tomentose (b) subsp. ceratophylla

1 Stems with few or no leaves above; leaf-segments narrowly linear; plant subglabrous

2 Appendageswith5 -8fimbriaeoneachside,thelowernot confluent; basal leaves 2-pinnatisect (a) subsp. rupestris

2 Appendageswithfewerthan5 fimbriae oneachside,thelower joined by a white or hyaline membrane

3 Basal leaves ± regularly pinnatisect (c) subsp. finazzeri

3 Basal leaves undivided or lyrate (d) subsp. athoa