Morina persica, 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 : 56-57

1. M. persica L. , Sp. Pl. 28 (1753).

Robust plant 30-90 cm. Leaves 15-20 x 1-2 cm, linear to elliptical, dentate to pinnatifid, glabrous. Verticillasters rather distant; bracts 2-4-5 xc. 1cm, ovate-triangular, sometimes pinnatifid near base, with marginal spines up to c. 1 cm. Calyx-lobes subequal, entire or emarginate.

Corolla-tube c. 3 cm, villous, the lips patent, pink. Rocky places, mainly in the mountains. S. & E. parts ofBalkan peninsula. Al Bu Gr Ju Tu.

Plants from Macedonia, said to have short leaf-lobes, less conspicuous bracts with shorter spines, and rather globose verticillasters, have been recognized as subsp. turcica Halácsy , Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 41: 409 (1891), but probably do not merit recognition at this level.