Phyteuma orbiculare, 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 : 97

13. P. orbiculare L. , Sp. Pl. 170 (1753) .

Stem (5-)10-50cm, erect, rarely ascending, sparsely leafy. Basal leaves linearlanceolate to elliptical, rounded to cordate, or narrowed into the petiole, crenate-serrate, petiolate; lower cauline leaves similar, the upper subsessile, serrate to entire. Inflorescence 1 -2-5 cm across, more or less globose, with 15-30 flowers. Bracts more or less acuminate, ovate-lanceolate, entire or serrate, shorter to longer than the capitulum. Corolla blue to blue-violet, rarely white, strongly curved in bud. Stigmas 2-3. 2л = 22 + 0-2В. Dry grassland and rocky ground', somewhat calcicole. • From S. England andLatvia southwards to S. Spain and Albania. Al Au Be Br Cz Ga Ge He Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (B, C, W). Very variable in size, shape and development of leaves and shape, indumentum and length of bracts. Numerous variants have been described by R. Schulz, but these are connected by many intermediates and lack a clear geographical basis. Among the more distinct variants are P. hispanicum R. Schulz , Monogr. Phyteuma 127 (1904), from S. Spain, with broadly elliptical to suborbicular basal leaves and bracts with regular, straight cilia, and P. tenerum R. Schulz , op. cit. 122 (1904), from W.C. and S.W. Europe, with densely leafy stems, finely and sharply serrate leaves and small, triangular bracts. The taxonomic value of these variants requires further investigation.