Knautia longifolia, (Waldst. & Kit.) Koch

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 : 64

12. K. longifolia (Waldst. & Kit.) Koch , Syn. FI. Germ. 343 (1835)

( K. arvensis subsp. kochii (Brügger) Rouy , K. brachytricha Briq. , K. kochii Brügger ).

Perennial; stock sympodial, with terminal flowering stems and lateral leaf-rosettes. Stem (20-)40- 80(-120) cm, with fewer than 5 capitula; lower internodes short, glabrous, rarely puberulent, shining; upper internodes and peduncles puberulent and with long hairs, glandular. Leaves subcoriaceous, green when dry, shining above, undivided (rarely lobed), lanceolate, attenuate, entire to subcrenate, glabrous except for ciliate margin or puberulent; basal subhirsute when young, petiolate; cauline sessile, the lower (4|-)6-9 times as long as wide, attenuate at base, the upper usually 3-9 times as long as wide, somewhat widened at base. Capitula (2-5-)3-5-5(-6) cm in diameter. Calyx patelliform, usually 8-awned. Corolla pinkishpurple. In = 20. Mountain meadows and wood-margins. • S. & E. Alps; E. Carpathians; W.C. part ofBalkan peninsula. Al Au Gr He It Ju Rm Rs (W).

Plants from the E. Carpathians and from some parts of the Balkan peninsula have wider upper leaves and wider, less attenuate bracts than those from the Alps. Separation from 14 is difficult in parts of the Balkan peninsula.