Asperula aristata, L. fil.

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 : 6

1. A. aristata L. fil. , Suppl. 120 (1781).

Non-flowering shoots green or grey-green, woody at base or herbaceous. Stems 10-60 cm, often shortly papillose-hairy below, usually subglabrous above. Leaves (10-) 15-25(40) x 0-5-2 mm, in whorls of 4, lanceolate to linear, with short hyaline apex usually 0- 1-0-2 mm. Inflorescence freely branched; bracts free. Corolla hypocrateriform to narrowly infundibuliform; tube (13—)2—3(—4) times as long as lobes. Fruit papillose, rarely hairy. S. Europe, extending northwards to S.E. Austria. Al Au BI Bu Ga Gr He Hs It Ju Lu Rm Si.

A very polymorphic complex. Since an accurate typification of A. aristata L. fil. is not possible, this epithet is not used for any of the following subspecies.

In Islas Baléares a variant occurs with leaves mostly in pairs; it has been called A. paui Font Quer , Butli. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat. 20: 188 (1920) and is probably worth specific or subspecific rank.

1 Corolla-lobes usually not or obscurely appendiculate

2 Pedicelsnotmorethan0 -5mm,thepartialinflorescences spicate-pyramidal; stems 35-60 cm, often rough with short hairs above; leaves usually shortly papillose (b) subsp. nestia

2 Pedicels usually 0-5-1 -5 mm, the partial inflorescences ± corymbiform; stems 25-45 cm, glabrous at least above; leaves glabrous (c) subsp. thessala

1 Corolla-lobes distinctly appendiculate

3 Partial inflorescences spicate; stems often more than 30 cm, usually ± woody at base; middle intemodes (2-)3-4 times as long as the leaves (a) subsp. scabra

3 Partialinflorescencescorymbiform; stems usuallynot more than 30 cm, scarcely woody at base; middle internodes (1—)2— 3 times as long as the leaves

4 Leaves linear; partial inflorescences scarcely capitate; bracts± narrowly lanceolate; stems often more than

20 cm (d) subsp. oreophila

4 Leaves lanceolate or oblanceolate; partial inflorescences distinctly capitate; bracts broadly lanceolate-ovate; stem usually not more than 20 cm (e) subsp. condensata