''Leuzea rhapontica'' subsp. ''heleniifolia'',

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

''Rhaponticum heleniifolium'', is a

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the genus ''

Leuzea ''Rhaponticum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. Description ''Rhaponticum'' species are perennial herbaceous plants with simple, rarely branched stems. The leaves are simple to pinnatifid. T ...

'' of the family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

Description

The biological form of ''Leuzea rhapontica'' subsp. ''heleniifolia'' is '' hemicryptophyte'' ''

scapose This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

'',Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, pag. 173 as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the

floral axis The floral axis (sometimes referred to as the receptacle) is the area of the flower upon which the reproductive organs and other ancillary organs are attached. It is also the point at the center of a floral diagram. Many flowers in division Angios ...

is more or less erect with a few leaves.

Asteraceae - Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp

''Leuzea rhapontica'' subsp. ''heleniifolia'' reaches on average in height. 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 Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a plant ...

. Regarding the morphology of leaf blades, this species is quite polymorphic. The basal leaves are usually lanceolate or elliptical and petiolated. The flower heads are pink to purple, spherical and very large (about in diameter). The bracts are brownish and membranous. The flowering period extends from June to August. The flowers are

hermaphroditic In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrates) do not have separ ...

and are pollinated by insects. The fruits are brown achenes.

Distribution

This quite rare plant occurs in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, and

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

.Distribution and Synonyms in Compositae
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Habitat

It 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.

Gallery

File:Asteraceae - Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium-4.JPG, Plants File:Asteraceae - Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium-3.JPG, Flower File:Asteraceae - Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium.JPG, Leaves

References

* Josef Holub - Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of Leuzea DC. and Rhaponticum auct - Folia Geobotanica - Vol. 1 / 1966 - Vol. 46 / 2011

External links

Schede di Botanica
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q55873527, from2=Q764266 Cardueae Flora of the Alps