Knautia dipsacifolia, Kreutzer

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 : 63

5. К. dipsacifolia Kreutzer , Anthochron. Pl. Eur. Med. 223 (1840)

( Scabiosa dipsacifolia Schrank , Knautia sylvatica (L.) Duby , nom. ambig.).

Perennial; stock sympodial, with terminal and lateral buds developing into flowering stems (or leafrosettes). Stem 40-150 cm, usually hispid, the lower and middle internodes sometimes glabrous; peduncles glandular or eglandular. Leaves membranous to subcoriaceous, green, undivided, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-elliptical to narrowly lanceolate, more or less acuminate; upper cauline subdentate to serrate, cuneate, rounded, subauriculate or cordate-amplexicaul at base; lower cauline subdenticulate to serrate, hispid, subsetose (sometimes glabrescent), petiolate. Capitula 2-5-4 cm in diameter. Calyx patelliform, usually 8-awned. Fruit 5-6 x 2-2-5 mm, oblongovoid. Wood-margins and tail-herb communities. • Mountains of C. Europe, extending to E. Belgium and S. C. France. Au Be Cz Ga Ge He Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (W).

The tetraploid subspecies hybridize extensively with 29 at zones of contact. The taxonomic separation from related, geographically adjacent or sympatric polyploid species (e.g. 3, 6, 9, 18, 19) is often difficult.

1 Corolla pinkish-purple

2 Upper cauline leaves distinctly cordate-amplexicaul, usually subdentate (a) subsp. lancifolia

2 Upper cauline leaves dilated or subauriculate at base, usually dentate

3 Upper cauline leaves broadly cuneate or rounded at base, usually dentate (b) subsp. pocutica

3 Upper cauline leaves mostly subauriculate at base, usually deeply serrate-dentate (c) subsp. turocensis

1 Corolla predominantly bluish-violet to lilac

4 Leaves narrowly lanceolate, entire to subdentate; leaves and lower and middle internodes usually glabrescent (e) subsp. sixtina

4 Leaves oblong-lanceolate to ovate-elliptical, dentate; at least the lower internodes setose

5 Peduncles eglandular; upper cauline leaves usually attenuate at base; middle internodes usually glabrescent; plants slender (d) subsp. gracilis

5 Peduncles often glandular; upper cauline leaves broadly rounded, auriculate at base; middle internodes setose; plants robust (f) subsp. dipsacifolia