Centaurea pectinata, 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 : 295-296

193. C. pectinata L. , Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1287 (1763).

Perennial. Stems 10-40 cm, erect or ascending, sparingly branched. Leaves subcoriaceous, glabrous or hairy, obovate to oblong, entire, dentate to pinnatisect; lower attenuate into the petiole; upper semiamplexicaul or narrowed to the base. Capitulum sessile, solitary. Involucre 18-20 x 13-18 mm, ovoid or subglobose; appendages 8-10 mm, narrowly lanceolate-subulate, almost completely covering bracts, with recurved apex, yellowish-brown, or black at the base and dark brown at apex, densely pectinatefimbriate, the fimbriae up to 3 mm, reddish-brown. Florets pink or purple, the outer sometimes radiate. Achenes c. 3 mm; pappus 0-5 mm. 2« = 22. Dry, rocky places. • S. & S. C. France, C. & E. Spain. Ga Hs.

1 Involucre 18 mm in diameter; leaves acute (b) subsp. acutifolia 1 Involucre c. 15 mm in diameter; leaves obtuse

2 Leaves greyish-tomentose or -lanate; stems short

(c) subsp. supina 2 Leaves green or greyish-green, glabrous or tomentose; stems long (a) subsp. pectinata