Asperula nitida, Sibth. & Sm.

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 : 8

15. A. nitida Sibth. & Sm. , FI. Graec. Prodr. 1: 89 (1806).

Densely caespitose to pulvinate; young shoots green, usually conspicuously falcate-incurved. Stems 6-25 cm, usually with patent hairs up to 0* 1 mm; lower internodes short, the upper (1—)2—3 times as long as the leaves. Leaves (5-)10-15 x 0-5-0-9 mm, narrowly lanceolate to acicular, straight or falcate, usually blackish when dry, with hyaline awn up to 1 mm; midrib comprising less than 0.5 of width of leaf; margin weakly revolute, usually with distinct cilia c. 0* 1 mm. Inflorescence compact or slightly elongate, with (2-)3-4(-10) flower-clusters; bracts usually ciliate. Corolla 5*5-8 mm, hypocrateriform to narrowly infundibuliform, pale purplish, glabrous and smooth; tube 2-3 times as long as lobes; lobes distinctly appendiculate. Fruit c. 2 mm, papillose, glabrous. Alpine calcareous and siliceous Soils. Mountains of C. Greece. Gr.