Filago pyramidata, 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 : 122

7. F. pyramidata L. , Sp. Pl. 1199, [1230] (1753).

Plant greyish-white. Stem (2-)5-30(-40) cm. Leaves (5-)10-15 mm, linear-oblong to spathulate. Capitula 3-5-6 x 2-2-5 mm, pyramidal, sharply 5-angled, in clusters of 5-20; clusters 5-12 mm wide, sometimes overtopped by subtending leaves. Involucral bracts 2-5-4-5 x 1-1-3 mm, 4-6 in each vertical row, keeled, stramineous, without reddish colouration, softly lanate on the back, distinctly divergent in fruit, with a recurved arista 1-1-5 mm. Inner female florets (0—)5—7; hermaphrodite 4-7. Achenes O-5-O-8 mm, cylindrical to oblong-ovoid. 2zz = 28. S. & W. Europe, northwards to S. England. Al?Az Be BI Br Bu Co Cr Ga Ge Gr He Ho Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Rs (K) Tu.

Polymorphic. Several variants have been described at specific rank, but intermediates occur and much of the variation seems to be phenotypic. Three fairly well-marked variants, var. prostrata (Fiori) Wagenitz , var. gussonei (Nyman) Wagenitz and var. obovata (Pomel) Wagenitz , are perhaps worth subspecific rank (see Wagenitz, Willdenowia 5: 404-406 (1969)).