Family |
Caprifoliaceae
Cephalaria balansae
Raus
Leb. Syr. Tur.
Cephalaria balansae Raus
(Willdenowia 35: 59; 2005)
≡ Cephalaria dipsacoides Boiss. & Balansa (Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 336)
Description
Life-form & habit: Erect, robust perennial, up to 1.5 m tall or more; branching in the upper parts.
Leaves: Basal and intermediate leaves softly tomentose, either entire or lyrately lobed with ovate or oblong-obtuse segments; upper leaves divided into narrow, linear segments.
Inflorescence & flowers: Capitula 1–3 cm in diameter, borne on long, slender peduncles. Outer bracts ovate, muticous; receptacular scales lanceolate, shortly acuminate.
Flowers: Creamy-white to yellowish, regular, not radiant.
Involucel: Quadrangular, glabrous or slightly pubescent, with four short teeth at the corners, 6–8× shorter than the body.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowers in summer.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky outcrops and open slopes, typically in montane habitats.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Mi. Qrayyé, Feitroun; Mm. Sofar, Mdeireje, Hasroun, Jabal Mneitré, west of Qartaba, west of Douma, Qannoubine.
Syrian distribution: S. Mm. Jabal Mattai; NLatt. Karadourane.
Native range: Southern Turkey to western Syria and Lebanon