Beilis perennis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 111

2. B. perennis L. , Sp. Pl. 886 (1753).

Perennial, usually scapose, spreading by short stolons. Leaves 10-60 x 4-25 mm, oblanceolate to broadly obovate-spathulate, subentire to crenate-serrate, appressed-pubescent at least when young, 1 -veined, bright green, narrowed usually rather abruptly to a petiole usually about as long as lamina. Peduncles 4_15(-25) cm, slender, thickened below the capitulum. Capitula usually 15-30 mm in diameter; receptacle conical. Involucral bracts 3-5(-7) mm, oblong, usually obtuse. Ligules 4-8(-l 1) mm, often purplish-red beneath. Achenes 1-1-5 mm, pubescent. 2n= 18. Pastures, roadsides and other grassy habitats. S., W. & C. Europe, extending northwards to Denmark and eastwards to White Russia and Krym’, naturalized or casual further north. All except BI Rs (N, E) Sb, but only naturalized in Fa Fe Is and perhaps also in Az No Su and Rs (B).

Very variable, some variants being difficult to distinguish from 6. Arobust variant, B.hybrida Ten., FI. Nap. 5:233 (1835-1838) ( B. perennis subsp. hybrida (Ten.) Nyman), usually with leafy stem, from the mountains of S. Europe, has been variously interpreted as a hybrid between 2 and 6 or as a distinct species, but is probably best treated as an ecotype or environmental variant of 2.