Saussurea alpina, (L.) DC.

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 : 216-217

7. S. alpina (L.) DC. , Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 16: 198 (1810).

Stems 2-50 cm, not winged, sparsely to densely leafy. Basal and lower cauline leaves ovate- to linear-lanceolate, rounded to cuneate at base, entire or somewhat dentate, with narrowly winged petiole, the upper linear to lanceolate, sessile. Capitula 1 -5-2 x 0-7-1 cm, ovoid-cylindrical, in more or less contracted terminal corymbs or a corymbiform panicle. Involucral bracts without apical appendages, densely pubescent, rarely subglabrous. Corolla purple. Europe, southwards to the Pyrenees, S. Alps and S. Carpathians', mainly in the mountains but in the north and north-east also at low altitudes . Au Br Cz Fe Ga Ge Hb He Hs It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W) Sb Su.

An extremely polymorphic species, showing variation especially in length of stem, in the shape, size, pubescence and margin of the leaves, in inflorescence-type, and in shape and pubescence of the involucre. The polymorphism of plants from W. Europe results partly from environmental variation, but also from hybridization, probably with 8.

1 Stems 2—8(—10) cm, procumbent at base; upper leaves equalling or exceeding inflorescence; leaves arachnoid-villous above

(c) subsp. depressa 1 Stems usually 10-50 cm, erect; upper leaves not exceeding inflorescence; leaves glabrous above

2 Leaves glabrous or subglabrous beneath; inflorescence a lax panicle (d) subsp. esthonica 2 Leaves greyish-arachnoid-villous beneath; inflorescence usually a compact corymb

3 Lower leaves cuneate at base, gradually narrowed into petiole (a) subsp. alpina

3 Lower leaves rounded or inconspicuously cordate at base, abruptly narrowed into petiole (b) subsp. macrophylla