Anacyclus 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 : 168

63. Anacyclus L. 1

Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves (l-)2- to 3-pinnatisect, alternate. Capitula pedunculate. Involucral bracts in few rows, the outer shorter than the inner. Receptacle convex or conical; scales present. Outer florets ligulate, female or sterile, the ligules entire or minutely 3-dentate, patent or rarely short and erect. Inner florets 5-lobed, yellow, sometimes weakly zygomorphic; corollatube compressed or winged. Achenes compressed, obovate, the outer 2-winged, the inner often unwinged; pappus absent, or scarious and denticulate, or of distinct scarious scales.

1 Ligules short, erect, not exceeding the involucre

2 Outer achenes with divaricate lobes at top of wings

3. valentinus 2 Outer achenes with erect lobes at top of wings 1. clavatus 1 Ligules 10-15 mm, patent, exceeding the involucre

3 Ligules yellow; inner involucral bracts with a conspicuous scarious appendage at the apex 2. radiatus 3 Ligules white or purple beneath; inner involucral bracts without a conspicuous scarious appendage at the apex

4 Annual; ligules white; wings extending beyond apex of achenes 1. clavatus 4 Perennial; ligules purplish beneath; wings shorter than achenes 4. pyrethrum