Centaurea melitensis, 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 : 285

159. C. melitensis L. , Sp. Pl. 917 (1753).

Annual or biennial. Stems up to 80 cm, erect, winged above, sparingly branched from the middle. Leaves green, crispate-puberulent, the margin scabrid; lower lanceolate, lyrate-pinnatifid to sinuately lobed; upper lanceolate. Capitula solitary or in groups of 2-3. Involucre 8-12 mm in diameter, ovoid-globose; bracts glabrous or puberulent, veinless; appendages not decurrent, short, with patent apical spine 5-8 mm and 1-3 remote, short lateral spines on each side. Florets yellow, glandular, the outer patent. Achenes c. 2-5 mm; pappus as long as achene. 2zi = 24. Dry places and disturbed ground. S. Europe. Az BI Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si.