Centaurea affinis, Friv.

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 : 272

84. C. affinis Friv. , Flora (Regensb.) 19: 435 (1836).

Perennial. Stems 30-80 cm, erect. Leaves scabrid, white-tomentose or with greyish-arachnoid indumentum; lower 1 -pinnatisect, the segments 3-5 mm wide, oblong; cauline usually lyrate or pinnatifid. Capitula solitary. Involucre 12-15 x 8-12 mm, ovoid-globose; bracts ovate-oblong, with prominent veins; appendages dark brown or black, rarely yellow with a brown centre, not or scarcely spinose at apex. Florets pink. Pappus about as long as achene. Rocky places, mainly in the mountains. Balkan peninsula, S. Romania. Al Bu Gr Ju Rm Tu.

1 Cauline leaves undivided or with1 pair of segments at base

(c) subsp. peloponnesiaca 1 Cauline leaves pinnatifid or lyrate 2 Cauline leavespinnatifid 3 Leaf-segments ovate or elliptical (d) subsp. candida 3 Leaf-segments linear, mucronate (e) subsp. lacerata 2 Cauline leaveslyrate 4 Appendages 1 mm wide, with 5-6 fimbriae on each side

(b) subsp. balcanica 4 Appendages 2-3 mm wide, with 6-8 fimbriae on each side

(a) subsp. affinis