Saussurea DC.

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 : 216

114. Saussurea DC. 1

Unarmed perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, entire to pinnatisect. Capitula solitary, or in corymbs or panicles. Involucre ovoid, campanulate or cylindrical; bracts in many rows, imbricate, rarely with membranous apical appendages. Receptacular scales numerous, paleaceous, rarely absent. Florets hermaphrodite, tubular; corolla narrow below, cupuliform distally, 5-fid. Anthers with entire or divided basal appendages. Achenes cylindrical, 4-ribbed, smooth or rugose, glabrous. Pappus in (l-)2 rows; outer setae short, free, simple and scabrid or slightly plumose, deciduous, the inner longer, connate at base into a ring, plumose, persistent.

Literature: O. Mattirolo, Malpighia 3: 468-478 (1890). J. Briquet & F. Cavillier in E. Burnat, Flore des Alpes Maritimes 7: 245-252. Genève. 1931. E. I. Nyárády, Verh. Mitt. Siebenb. Ver. Naturw. 89-90: 231-241 (1940).

1 Median and inner involucral bracts expanded at apex into rounded, pink, membranous appendages 1. amara 1 Involucral bracts without apical appendages

2 Capitula solitary; anther-appendages lanate 4. pygmaea 2 Capitula 2 to many, in corymbs or panicles; anther-appendages not lanate

3 At least the lower leaves pinnatisect

4 Middle leaves entire 2. salsa 4 All leaves (l-)2-pinnatisect 3. turgaiensis 3 Leaves entire to dentate

5 Stem winged

6 Basal and lower cauline leaves long-petiolate, elliptical to broadly lanceolate, serrate, glabrous 5. parviflora 6 Basal and lower cauline leaves shortly petiolate, linearlanceolate, entire or slightly dentate, arachnoid- or crispate-puberulent beneath 6. porcii 5 Stem not winged

7 Leaves sparsely greyish-arachnoid-villous to glabrous; basal and lower leaves linear- to ovate-lanceolate, rounded or cuneate at base; petiole narrowly winged

7. alpina 7 Leaves densely whitish-tomentose beneath; basal and lower leaves ovate- to lanceolate-triangular, broadly truncate or cordate at base; petiole not winged

8 Stems 10-20(-45) cm, ascending near base; lower leaves triangular-lanceolate, up to 60 mm wide 8. discolor 8 Stems 25-80cm, erect; lower leaves triangular-ovate, 40-85 mm wide 9. controversa