Scorzonera humilis, 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 : 320

9. S. humilis L. , Sp. Pl. 790 (1753)

(inch S. candollei Vis. ).

Perennial 5-50(-120) cm, subglabrous to more or less arachnoid-lanate at base and apex of stem and at base of leaves and involucre; rootstock vertical, stout, not fibrous at apex. Stems solitary or few, simple or rarely with 1-2 branches, erect, with 1-7 leaves, the upper usually scale-like. Basal leaves 5-30 x 0-3-5 cm, linear to ovate-elliptical, acute or acuminate, flat, entire, gradually narrowed at base into a usually distinct petiole. Involucre 15-30 mm. Ligules l |-2 times as long as bracts, yellow or rarely whitish, sometimes brownish outside. Achenes 7-11 mm, cylindrical, with slender, smooth ribs, glabrous. Pappus-hairs slightly longer than achene, plumose, dirty white. 2л = 14, 15. • Much of Europe, but absent from the N., S. & E. margins . Au Be * Br Cz Da Fe Ga Ge He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W) Su.

Plants from N. Italy with acuminate (not subobtuse) involucral bracts and achenes with scabrid ribs have been called subsp. tenuifolia (Schrader) Arcangeli , Comp. FI. Ital. 421 (1882) (5. tenuifolia Schrader ); their status and relationships are uncertain.