Knautia subcanescens, Jordan

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 : 64

18. K. subcanescens Jordan , Cat. Jard. Grenoble 1853: 12 (1853).

Perennial; stock sympodial, with flowering stems often without basal leaves and usually without leaf-rosettes at anthesis. Stem 50-100 cm, the lowerinternodes rather long, villous and densely pubescent; peduncles usually glandular. Leaves undivided, ovate to broadly lanceolate, crenate-serrate; lower cauline petiolate; upper cauline acuminate, sparsely pubescent above, greyish-whiteandsubvelutinousbeneath, subcordate to cordateat base, sessile. Capitula 3-5-4-5 cm in diameter. Calyx subpatelliform, 8-dentate. Corolla violet-purple. 2л = 40. Mountain meadows. • S. W. Alps. Ga?It.

Closely related to 5(d) and 1, from which it is sometimes separated with difficulty.