Hedypnois eretica, (L.) Dum.-Courset

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 : 307

1. H. eretica (L.) Dum.-Courset , Bot. Cult. 2: 339 (1802)

( H. rhagadioloides (L.) F. W. Schmidt , H. polymorpha DC. ).

Plant 3 -45(-60) cm, more or less hairy. Leaves 5-180(-250) x 2-25(-35) mm, mostly narrowly elliptical to oblanceolate, entire to deeply dentate or lobed, the basal usually with winged petioles, the cauline usually sessile. Capitula 1-numerous; peduncles more or less thickened. Involucre 7-10-5 x 3-11 mm; bracts narrowly linear-lanceolate, more or less acute, the inner usually partially enclosing the outer achenes and strongly incurved in fruit. Achenes 5-7-5 mm, often narrowed near apex, with minute, rigid hairs; outer achenes incurved. Pappus of outer achenes usually a corona, that of inner achenes of narrow, long-aristate scales. 2л = 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18. Dry places. S. Europe. Al Az BI Bu Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Rs (K) Sa Si Tu.

Very variable in size, habit, hairiness, dissection of leaf and thickening of peduncle. Many variants have been named, but the characters occur in various combinations, even in the same locality, and there seem to be no variants of any geographical or ecological significance.