Flora of North America species comparison

usually 1, erect, ± openly branched distally, loosely tomentose.

usually several–many from base, spreading, ± openly branched distally, loosely gray-tomentose.

± loosely gray-tomentose;

basal leaf blades linear-lanceolate, 3–10 cm, margins entire or with remote linear lobes, apices acute;

cauline linear, usually not much smaller except among heads, usually entire.

± loosely gray-tomentose;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, blades oblong, 5–10 cm, margins entire or pinnatifid with terminal segment largest, apices obtuse;

mid and distal cauline sessile, linear-lanceolate to oblong, blades usually not much smaller, entire, mucronate.

campanulate, 12–16 mm.

ovoid to campanulate, 15–20 mm.

25–35;

corollas blue (white to purple), those of sterile florets raylike, enlarged, 20–25 mm, those of fertile florets 10–15 mm.

25–35;

corollas of sterile florets spreading, dark blue, 25–30 mm, enlarged, those of fertile florets purple, ca. 15 mm.

bodies green, ovate (outer) to oblong (inner), tomentose or becoming glabrous, margins and erect appendages white to dark brown or black, scarious, fringed with slender teeth ± 1 mm.

bodies green, ovate (outer) to oblong (inner), glabrous, margins and erect appendages silvery white to brown, scarious, fringed with slender teeth 1.5–2 mm.

radiant, in open, rounded or ± flat-topped cymiform arrays, pedunculate.

radiant, borne singly, pedunculate.

stramineous or pale blue, 4–5 mm, finely hairy;

pappi of many unequal stiff bristles, 2–4 mm.

brown, 4.5–6 mm, puberulent near attachment scar, otherwise glabrous;

pappi of outer series of unequal stiff bristles 2–8 mm, inner series of slender scales ca. 1.5 mm.

= 24 (Russia).

= 16 (Armenia).