Senecio papposus, (Reichenb.) Less.

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 : 200-201

39. S. papposus (Reichenb.) Less. , Linnaea 6: 244 (1831)

( S. spathulifolius sensu Hayek, non Griesselich).

Perennial 30- 130 cm. Stock erect to horizontal, short. Basal leaves 10-25

x 2-5 cm, ovate to elliptic-oblong, sinuate-dentate to subentire, usually gradually narrowed into a petiole which is usually longer than the lamina; cauline linear-lanceolate, sessile, sometimes amplexicaul. Capitula 5-15, 3O-4O(-5O) mm in diameter, in a lax corymb. Involucre 8-10 mm. Ligules c. 15, 10-15 mm, yellow or golden yellow, sometimes absent. Achenes 3-3-5 mm, glabrous. 2« = 40. Stony or grassy, usually dry places.?• N. & C. parts of Balkan peninsula, extending to N.E. Italy; E. & S. Carpathians, W. Ukraine. Al Bu Cz Gr It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W)?Tu.

Extremely variable, especially in leaf-shape and indumentum. The following subspecies may be recognized, but most of the rest of the variation follows no very clear pattern.

1 Ligules absent; involucral bracts purplish-brown (b) subsp. wagneri

1 Ligules present; involucral bracts usually greenish

2 Plant glabrescent before anthesis; basal leaves rather fleshy (c) subsp. kitaibelii

2 Plant persistently arachnoid-tomentose at least on lower surface of leaves; basal leaves not fleshy (a) subsp. papposus