Cephalaria syriaca, (L.) Roemer & Schultes

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 : 58

7. C. syriaca (L.) Roemer & Schultes , op. cit. 45 (1818).

Annual up to 90 cm, more or less setose. Leaves 3-15 x 1-5-3-5 cm, oblong-lanceolate to ovate-elliptical, entire, dentate to weakly lobed, sessile or shortly petiolate; cauline leaves sometimes connate at base. Involucral bracts 3-4 x 1-5-2-5 mm, ovate to broadly triangular, acuminate, appressed-pubescent or -puberulent. Receptacular scales 8-12x3-5 mm, oblong, with terminal spines as long as or longer than limb. Corolla 8-14 mm, blue or lilac. Involucel 4-5 mm in fruit, 8-angled, with 4 ridges produced into setae 0.5 as long as to as long as tube and 4 small intermediate ridges with short setae up to 0.5 as long as tube. Cultivated fields and waste places; a frequent casual in S. Europe and naturalized in France and Spain and perhaps elsewhere. [?Bu Ga?Gr Hs?It?Si.] (S.W. Asia.)