Andryala ragusina, 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 : 358

3. A. ragusina L. , Sp. Pl. ed. 2,1136 (1763).

Perennial. Stems 10-50 cm, tomentose with stellate and simple eglandular hairs. Leaves 20-80 mm, linear-oblong, elliptical, obovate or oblanceolate, more or less acute, tomentose with dense stellate and simple eglandular hairs, all or at least the lower narrowed at base, the upper sometimes abruptly contracted and semiamplexicaul. Capitula few to numerous. Involucral bracts linear-lanceolate, acute, with dense stellate and simple eglandular hairs, without glandular hairs. Achenes 2-2-5 mm. • 5. W. Europe. BI Co Ga Hs Lu.

Two distinct variants occur: var. ragusina has the stems branched only above the middle, leaves 10-30 mm wide, and involucre 11-16 x 12-16 mm, while var. ramosissima Boiss. ex DC. has the stems often branched from the base, leaves not more than 10 mm wide, and involucre 8-10 x 6-10 mm. They may deserve the rank of subspecies, but they both appear to occur throughout the range of the species and their ecology is not clearly understood.