Scorzonera austriaca, Willd.

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 : 319

8. S. austriaca Willd. , Sp. Pl. 3: 1498 (1803).

Perennial 5-50 cm, glabrous or sparsely arachnoid-tomentose especially at base of stems and leaves; rootstock vertical, stout, densely fibrous at apex. Stems solitary or few, erect, usually leafless except for 3-6 almost scale-like leaves. Basal leaves 5-30 x 0-3-3 cm, entire, acuminate. Involucre 15-25(-30) mm. Ligules 1^-2 times as long as bracts, pale yellow. Achenes 8-14 mm, cylindrical-ellipsoid, with smooth to rugose ribs, glabrous. Pappus-hairs about as long as achene, plumose, white. 2л = 14. Dry places. From C. France and Czechoslovakia southwards to S. Italy and Bulgaria, and in the S. & E. parts of U.S.S.R. Al Au Bu Cz Ga Ge He Hu It Ju Rm Rs (N, C, W, К, E).

Very variable, especially in leaf-shape; the following subspecies are more or less distinct.

1 Stems branched (b) subsp. crispa 1 Stems simple

2 Lamina of basal leaves abruptly contracted into petiole

(c) subsp. bupleurifolia 2 Lamina of basal leaves gradually narrowed into petiole

(a) subsp. austriaca