Centaurea toletana, Boiss. & Reuter

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 : 269

61. C. toletana Boiss. & Reuter , Diagn. Pl. Nov. Hisp. 18 (1842)

( C. cavanillesiana Graells ).

Acaulescent or stems up to 5 cm. Leaves floccose-tomentose at least when young, mostly pinnate; segments cordate to narrowly lanceolate, often shallowly lobed. Capitula usually several. Involucre c. 20 mm in diameter, ovoid; bracts oblong-ovate; appendages (8-) 10-12 mm, triangular-lanceolate, remotely long-fimbriate, with spinescent apex. Florets pale yellow, the outer as long as the inner. Achenes c. 6 mm, blackish-brown, c. 6 times as long as pappus. Scrub. • C. & S.E. Spain. Hs.

Subsp. tentudaica Rivas Goday , Veg. FI. Cuenca Extr. Guadiana 666 (1964), from W.C. Spain (Sierra Tudia), is acaulescent, has leaves with spinulose-mucronate segments, solitary capitula, involucre c. 30 mm in diameter and pinkish-orange florets; it is in some ways intermediate between 61 and 62 and the relationship between these three taxa is uncertain.