Asperula lutea, Sibth. & Sm.

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 : 8

16. A. lutea Sibth. & Sm. , op. cit. 88 (1806).

Stems 8-48 cm, caespitose to laxly pulvinate, erect or ascending, usually woody at base, usually with hairs 0*05-0*3 mm below, more or less subglabrous above; basal internodes very short, the middle ones 3-5 times as long as the leaves. Leaves 7-24 x 0*3-0*7 mm, with hyaline apex 0*3-1 mm. Inflorescence elongate, laxly spicate with 3-many more or less capitate flower-clusters. Corolla hypocrateriform; tube (1.5-)2-3| times as long as lobes; lobes distinctly appendiculate. • S. & S. C. Greece. Gr.

Subsp. (a) and subsp. (b) are connected with 18 by intermediates, possibly of hybrid origin.

1 Leaves 5-15 mm, rigid, linear to acicular; hairs on stem

01 -0- 3 mm

2 Bracts connate for c.0.5 their length; hairs on stem often more than 0*2 mm (a) subsp. lutea

2 Bracts free or only slightly connate; hairs on stem not more than 0*2 mm (b) subsp. rigidula

1 Leaves 10-24 mm, thin, acicular; hairs on stem not more than

0*1 mm

3 Leaves± falcate, patent or recurved; flowers yellowish;

fruit 2-2*5 mm (c) subsp. euboea

3 Leaves± straight andappressed; flowerspink; fruit1 -2mm

(d) subsp. mungieri