Family |
Asteraceae
Centaurea drabifolia subsp. libanotica
(Boiss.) Wagenitz
Leb. Syr.
Centaurea drabifolia Sibth. & Sm. subsp. libanotica (Boiss.) Wagenitz
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, Pl. CCLXXX nº 2a–b; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Densely tufted, suffruticose perennial from a hardened rhizome. Plant canescent-arachnoid to glabrescent, nearly stemless or shortly caulescent, rarely exceeding 20 cm tall.
Leaves: Basal leaves linear, slightly petiolate, quickly withering, entire or variably pinnatilobed.
Inflorescence & flowers: Solitary terminal capitula, 2.5 cm long (including flowers), 6–9 mm wide.
Bracts: Tomentose to nearly glabrous; apical appendage palmate, with a central spine as long as the bract body and 1–3 pairs of shorter lateral spines. Lower bracts often with a reflexed central spine.
Phenology: Flowers from June to August.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky outcrops at high elevation.
Lebanese distribution:
Mm.: Jabal Kneissé, Hasroun, between Dimane and Yammouné
Me.: Jabal Sannine, Qala‘at ‘Arrouba, Col des Cèdres, Makmel summit, above the Cedars
Herm.: Summit of Mount HermonSyrian distribution:
A.L.: Anti-Lebanon (Draj, Tala‘at Moussa, Jabal Halimé)Native range: Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, Hermon. (KEW, GBIF)