Potentina recta, L.

28. P. recta L. , Sp. Pl. 4SI (1753)

(inch P. adriatica Murb. , P. hirta auct. balcan., non L., P. laciniosa Kit. ex Nestler , P. semilaciniosa Borbas, P. transcaspia T. Wolf,?P. velenovskyi Hayek ).

Perennial. Flowering stems 10-70 cm, terminal, densely pubescent, with long, patent or erecto-patent hairs and short, usually glandular hairs. Leaves digitate; leaflets 5-7, 15-100 x 5-35 mm, oblong to obovate, serrate to pinnatisect, green or grey. Flowers numerous; cymes lax. Sepals triangular-ovate; epicalyxsegments linear or linear-lanceolate, as long as or slightly longer than sepals. Petals 6-12 mm, yellow, as long as or longer than sepals. Style conical-cylindrical. 2« = 42. C., E. & S. Europe. Al Au Bu Co Cz Ga Ge G r He Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W, K, E) Sa Si Tu [Be Br Fe Ho No Su].

A very variable species. It is not yet possible to make any satisfactory subdivision for the whole of Europe. In the western part of its range the achenes are narrowly but distinctly winged while in the eastern part they are not winged. The most distinct taxa are P. recta L. sensu stricto, from C., E. and parts of S. Europe, with serrate or incise-serrate, green or grey-green leaflets; P. laciniosa Kit. ex Nestler , Monogr. Potent. 45 (1816), from E.C. Europe, with pinnatifid or pinnatisect, green or grey-green leaflets; P. pedata Nestler , op. cit. 44 (1816), from S.E. Europe, with pinnatifid or pinnatisect, grey leaflets. P. reuteri Boiss. , Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 3(2): 51 (1856), from S. Spain, is probably of hybrid origin from 28 and 30. It is like 28 but the basal leaves have not more than 7(-9) teeth or lobes and the achenes are without a narrow membranous margin.