Centaurea cassia
Centaurea cassia
Ssp cassia: Kelserçebaşı; ssp dumanii: Bey serçebaşı
Perennial, stem erect, 20-50 cm, branched from near base or in upper part. Leaves very densely glandular-punctate, slightly scabrous and arachnoid to glabrate; lower lyrate with lanceolate terminal segment 5-15 mm broad and 2-3 pairs of linear-lanceolate lateral segments, rarely undivided, median and upper leaves lanceolate or oblong, often with 1-2 pairs of lobes at base, 2-6 mm broad. Involucre 10-15 x 7-15 mm, ovoid to subglobose. Appendages large, concealing basal part of phyllaries, scarious, brown , ovate to nearly orbicular, very shortly decurrent, outer ± regularly ciliate with 10-15 cilia 1-2 mm , those of upper ½ of involucre only lacerate, all ending in a very short 0,5-0,8 mm mucro. Flowers rose-purple, marginal scarcely radiant. Achenes 3-3,5 mm; pappus 1-1,5 mm. Fl. 6-7. Woods, rocky slopes, 160-1750 m.
Latakia, Lebanon. E. Medit. Element.
