Cicerbita Wallr.

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 : 331

170. Cicerbita Wallr. 1

Perennial herbs. Stems usually solitary, branched. Leaves lobed, the cardine amplexicaul. Capitula numerous. Involucral bracts in several rows. Receptacle without scales. Ligules blue, lilac or violet. Achenes flattened, not beaked; pappus of 2 rows of simple hairs, the outer shorter than the inner.

All species grow in damp or shady places.

Literature: G. Beauverd, Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève ser. 2, 2: 99-144 (1910).

1 At least the peduncles, and usually also the upper part of the stem and the involucre, glandular-hairy

2 Lower leaves with a triangular terminal lobe and few pairs of small lateral lobes; capitula in an elongated panicle; achenes linear 1. alpina

2 Lower leaves with a cordate terminal lobe and usually only a single pair of lateral lobes; panicle wider, more or less corymbose; achenes narrowly elliptical 2. macrophylla

1 Plant glabrous

3 Midrib between leaf-segments with broad wing; achenes flat, conspicuously narrowed at apex 3. plumieri

3 Midrib between leaf-segments with narrow wing; achenes triangular in section, not narrowed to apex 4. pancicii