Centaurea

Domina, Gianniantonio, Barone, Giulio, Gristina, Emilio Di & Raimondo, Francesco M., 2021, The Centaurea parlatoris complex (Asteraceae): taxonomic checklist and typifications, Phytotaxa 527 (4), pp. 243-247 : 246

Identification key

1. Capitula ovate, the upper ones 8–11 mm in diameter ..................................................................................................... C. gussonei

– Capitula broadly oblong, the upper ones 6–7.5 mm in diameter ...................................................................................................... 2

2. Scapes branched from the base ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

– Scapes branched in the upper half .................................................................................................................................................... 4

3. Scapes and branches ascending, pappus 1/5 of the cypsela .......................................................................................... C. giardinae

– Scapes reclining, branches forming an angle with the scape between 45° and 90°, pappus 1/3 of the cypsela ..... C. heywoodiana

4. Central appendage of the bracts twice as long as the lateral fimbriae; cypsela glabrous, pappus 1/5 of the cypsela ........ C. sicana

– Central appendage of the bracts as long as the lateral fimbriae; cypsela hairy, pappus 1/3 of the cypsela ...................................... 5

5. Plant grey-tomentose; rosette and lower cauline leaves lyrate-pinnatifid ..................................................................... C. parlatoris

– Plant green-lanuginose; rosette and lower cauline leaves bipinnatifid .......................................................................... C. virescens