Centaurea depressa, Bieb.

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 : 300

218. C. depressa Bieb. , FZ. Taur.-Cauc. 2: 346 (1808).

Annual, rarely biennial. Stem 20-60 cm, unwinged, with many erecto-patent branches from the base. Leaves grey-tomentose; lower oblong, undivided, rarely lyrate-pinnatisect, obtuse, shortly petiolate; upper oblong- or linear-lanceolate, entire, acute, spinulose-mucronulate. Involucre 10-12 mm in diameter, ovoid; appendages narrowly (c. 0-3 mm) decurrent, reddish-black; fimbriae c. 2 mm, silvery. Inner florets violet; outer dark blue. Pappus 6-8 mm. Cultivated fields and waste ground. Naturalized in S.E. Europe. [Bu Gr Rs (K) Si Tu.] (5*. W. & C. Asia.)