Rhaponticum heleniifolium

Rhaponticum heleniifolium is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the genus 'Rhaponticum of the family Asteraceae.

Rhaponticum heleniifolium
Flower of Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Rhaponticum
Species:
R. heleniifolium
Binomial name
Rhaponticum heleniifolium
Godr. & Gren.

Description

The biological form of Rhaponticum heleniifolium is hemicryptophyte scapose,[1] 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 of Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium

Rhaponticum heleniifolium reaches on average 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) in height.[1] 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.[1] Regarding the morphology of leaf blades, this species (as the similar Rhaponticum scariosum Lam.) is quite polymorphic. The basal leaves are usually lanceolate or elliptical and petiolated.[1] The flower heads are pink to purple, spherical and very large (about 6–10 centimetres (2.4–3.9 in) in diameter).[1] 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. Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium has scales with acute apex and the leaves are much more elongated.

Distribution

This quite rare plant occurs in Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria.[2]

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.[1]

Synonyms
  • Rhaponticum lyratum (DC.) Bergmans
  • Leuzea rhapontica subsp. heleniifolia Holub
  • Rhaponticum scariosum subsp. lyratum (DC.) Hayek
  • Stemmacantha heleniifolia (Godr. & Gren.) Dittrich
  • Rhaponticum scariosum subsp. heleniifolium (Godr. & Gren.) Nyman
  • Stemmacantha rhapontica subsp. heleniifolia
  • Stemmacantha heleniifolia subsp. heleniifolia
  • Centaurea lyrata Bellardi
  • Centaurea heleniifolia Fritsch[3]
  • Plants of Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium
  • Flower of Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium
  • Leaves of Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. heleniifolium

References
  1. Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, pag. 173
  2. Distribution and Synonyms in Compositae
  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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