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Rhaponticum heleniifolium

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Rhaponticum heleniifolium
Flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Rhaponticum
Species:
R. heleniifolium
Binomial name
Rhaponticum heleniifolium
Gren. & Godr.[1]
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Centaurea heleniifolia (Gren. & Godr.) Fritsch
  • Centaurea lyrata Bellardi
  • Centaurea rhapontica subsp. heleniifolia (Gren. & Godr.) Arcang.
  • Leuzea heleniifolium (Gren. & Godr.) Holub
  • Rhaponticum lyratum (Bellardi) Bergmans
  • Rhaponticum scariosum proles heleniifolium (Gren. & Godr.) P.Fourn
  • Rhaponticum scariosum subsp. heleniifolium (Godr. & Gren.) Nyman
  • Stemmacantha heleniifolia (Godr. & Gren.) Dittrich

Rhaponticum heleniifolium, synonym Leuzea heleniifolium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.[1]

Description

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The biological form of Rhaponticum heleniifolium is hemicryptophyte scapose,[2] as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.

Scales with acute apex on a flower head

Rhaponticum heleniifolium reaches on average 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) in height.[2] The strong, thick, upright stem is quite leafy and hairy and usually has only one inflorescence. The leaves are green, while its underside is white-tomentose.[2] Regarding the morphology of leaf blades, this species is quite polymorphic. The basal leaves are usually lanceolate or elliptical and petiolated.[2] The flower heads are pink to purple, spherical and very large (about 6–10 centimetres (2.4–3.9 in) in diameter).[2] The bracts are brownish and membranous. The flowering period extends from June to August. The flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by insects. The fruits are brown achenes.

Distribution and habitat

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This quite rare plant occurs in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria.[1][3]

Rhaponticum heleniifolium grows in western Alps in sub-alpine and alpine meadows and stony slopes. This plant prefers calcareous soils, at altitudes from 750 to 2500 meters.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Rhaponticum heleniifolium Gren. & Godr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, pag. 173
  3. ^ Distribution and Synonyms in Compositae
  • Josef Holub - Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of Leuzea DC. and Rhaponticum auct - Folia Geobotanica - Vol. 1 / 1966 - Vol. 46 / 2011
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