Chondrilla 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 : 343

174. Chondrilla L. 1

Biennial to perennial herbs. Stems 1-5, much-branched. Leaves entire to runcinate-dentate; cauline often narrow or bract-like. Capitula numerous, with fewer than 15 florets. Involucre 9-12 x 2-5-5 mm, cylindrical; bracts in 2 rows, the outer much shorter than the inner. Receptacle flat, without scales. Ligules yellow. Achenes with numerous ribs; beak very short to longer than the body, rarely absent, usually surrounded at its base by up to 6 short scales forming a collar; pappus of numerous rows of soft, simple hairs.

1 Leaves entire to remotely dentate; capitula all terminal on rather long peduncles 4. chondrilloides 1 Leaves (at least the basal) deeply and irregularly runcinatedentate; at least some capitula axillary or lateral on short peduncles, or sessile

2 Beak of achene not more than 0-7 mm, sometimes absent

3. pauciflora

2 Beak of achene more than 0-7 mm

3 Branches ascending; stems glabrous or with patent rigid hairs or sparse short appressed hairs 1. juncea

3 Branches divaricate; stem with a short, whitish tomentum and few to numerous rigid hairs 2. ramosissima