Seseli libanotis, (L.) Koch

1. S. libanotis (L.) Koch View in CoL , Nova Acta Acad. Leop.-Carol. 12(1): 111 (1824)

( Libanotis montana Crantz ).

Glabrous or pubescent biennial or perennial (usually monocarpic) up to 120 cm; stems ridged. Lower leaves 1- to 3-pinnate. Rays (10-)20-60, up to 50 mm. Bracts usually 5-15 mm, 8 or more, linear, rarely replaced by 1-3 simple, lobed or toothed leaves; bracteoles 10—15, free. Sepals linear to ovate-lanceolate; petals white or pink, pubescent on the back. Fruit 2-5-4 x 1-5-2-5 mm, ovoid or ellipsoid, subterete, glabrous or pubescent; ridges obtuse. Styles deflexed, less than | as long as the fruit. 2zi = 22. Most o f Europe except the extreme north, west and south. Au Be Br Bu Cz Da Fe Ga Ge He Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E) Su. Very variable in leaf-dissection and shape of the lobes, and in indumentum. Leaf-dissection and shape of the lobes shows an east-west cline, the plants with the most dissected leaves and narrowest lobes occurring in the west. Plants with glabrous fruits occur mainly in the southern half of the range of the species, sometimes forming discrete populations, sometimes with otherwise almost identical plants with pubescent fruits. Populations with distinctive combinations of these characters have been described as separate species or as subspecies, but it is generally not possible to distinguish any of these taxa from the remainder by a single character. The following, however, seem sufficiently distinct to merit recognition as subspecies.