Entry From FZ, Vol 6, Part 1, (1992) Author: G. V. Pope
Contributor Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Resource Type Reference Sources
Range
Not known elsewhere
Information An erect densely leafy perennial herb, to c. 45 cm. tall from a small woody rootstock; roots 2-many, thong-like, each swelling at a distance from the rootstock to form a root-tuber; tubers up to c. 5 x 2 cm., ± fusiform. Stems often purplish, annual, 1-several, long ascending-branched, ribbed to somewhat angular above, puberulous-tomentellous; branches up to c. 22 cm. long, sparsely leafy, becoming bracteate above, otherwise similar to stem. Leaves densely crowded on lower stem, ascending-overlapping, up to c. 12 x 0.7 cm., linear- to narrowly-oblanceolate, apex acute, base narrowly attenuate, margins remotely serrate with callose-tipped teeth, lamina coriaceous, glabrous on upper surface and puberulous to glabrescent beneath with reticulation prominent on both surfaces. Capitula mostly solitary and terminal on stem or branches. Involucre up to c. 15 x 20 mm., broadly campanulate. Phyllaries appendaged; the outer phyllaries from c. 3 mm. long, linear-oblong, with a greenish oblong-elliptic to ovate appendage; the middle phyllaries up to c. 12 x 4 mm., oblong with a purple broadly ovate to suborbicular appendage slightly wider than the phyllary; the inner phyllaries up to c. 14 x 2.5 mm., lorate with a smaller appendage; appendage venation prominent. Corolla purple, to c. 14 mm. long, with a long slender tube and a short cylindrical exserted limb. Achenes up to c. 4 mm. long, narrowly turbinate-cylindric, c. 10-ribbed, truncate below with a thin flat carpopodium, hispidulous and glandular between the ribs; pappus many-seriate, copious, setae pale-brownish, flattened, barbellate on the margins, c. 2 mm. long and subulate on the outside increasing to c. 10 mm. long inside.