Centaurea paniculata, 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 : 276

113. C. paniculata L. , Sp. Pl. 912 (1753).

Biennial. Stems 40-80 cm, erect, much-branched from middle or below. Leaves green, pubescent to arachnoid-lanate and scabrid; lower 1 - to 2-pinnatisect. Involucre 5-10x 3-6 mm, narrowed at base; bracts appressed; appendages shortly triangular, acuminate or with an apical spine 1-2 mm, the fimbriae 1-2 mm, 3-6 on each side. Florets purple. Pappus 0-5-1 -5 mm. 2« = 18(19). • S.W. Europe. Ga Hs It Lu.

1 Appendages not spiny at apex (a) subsp. paniculata 1 Appendages with an apical spine

2 Appendages with fimbriae 1-8-2 mm

3 Appendages 3-5 mm, pale brown, the apical spine usually

2-3 mm (e) subsp. castellana 3 Appendages 1-5 mm, dark brown, the apical spine 0-7-0-8

mm (f) subsp. cossoniana 2Appendages with fimbriae 1-1-2 mm

4 Appendages with apical spine shorter than lateral fimbriae

(d) subsp. esterellensis 4 Appendages with apical spine as long as or longer than lateral fimbriae

5 Involucre 4-6(-8) mm in diameter; appendages with erect apical spine (b) subsp. rigidula 5 Involucre 3-4 mm in diameter; appendages with recurved apical spine (c) subsp. polycephala