Rhaponticum scariosum


Rhaponticum scariosum, common name giant scabiosa, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the genus Rhaponticum of the family Asteraceae.

Description

The biological form of Rhaponticum scariosum is hemicryptophyte ''scapose, as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.
Rhaponticum scariosum'' reaches on average in height. The strong, thick, upright stem is leafy and hairy, woolly-tomentose and usually has only one inflorescence. The leaves are green, while its underside is white-tomentose, with irregularly toothed edges. The basal leaves are heart-shaped and petiolated, about long, the upper leaves are smaller, lanceolate, about long. The flower heads are pink to purple, spherical and very large. The bracts are brownish and scarious. The flowering period extends from June to August.The flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by insects. The fruits are brown achenes.

Distribution

This quite rare plant occurs in Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

Habitat

It grows in sub-alpine and alpine meadows, stony slopes and thickets. This plant prefers slightly moist and mostly calcareous soils, at altitudes from 750 to 2500 meters.

Synonyms

  • Centaurea rhapontica L., Sp. Pl. 2: 915. 1753.
  • Centaurea scariosa Rouy, Fl. France 9: 114. 1905.
  • Leuzea rhapontica Holub, Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 8:392. 1973.
  • Rhapontica rhapontica Hill, Hort. Kew. 69. 1768, nom. illeg.
  • Rhaponticum rhaponticum Voss, Vilm. Blumengärtn., ed. 3. 1: 554. 1894, nom. illeg.
  • Serratula rhapontica DC., Fl. Franc., ed. 3. 4: 87. 1805.
  • Stemmacantha rhapontica Dittrich, Candollea 39: 49. 1984.
  • Rhaponticum scariosum subsp. lamarckii Greuter, Willdenowia 33: 61. 2003.
  • Stemmacantha rhapontica subsp. lamarckii Dittrich, Candollea 39: 49. 1984, nom. illeg.