| Asteraceae |
|---|
Inula britannica L. |
 Inula britannica L |
Inula L. |
| 1. britannica L., Sp. PI. 882 (1753). Ic: Hegi, I11. Fl. Mittel-Eur. 6(1):484, f. 245 a-f (1917). Similar to smaller forms of I. oculus-christi but stems often more herbaceous and taller, up to 75 cm. Basal leaves generally absent at flowering time; median and upper leaves generally less strongly auriculate, adpressed-villous on both surfaces but less densely so above. Capitula radiate, rarely solitary, usually in more dense corymbs of 3-15. Involucre 1∙2-1∙5 cm broad; phyllaries subequal; outer linear-lanceolate, foliaceous, lax or spreading, villous; inner membranous, pubescent and glandular. Ligules usually about 10 mm, glabrous. Achenes 1-1∙25 mm, finely pubescent. Pappus 4∙5-6 mm, white, hairs (finer than those of I. oculus-christi) 16-24, free at base. Fl. 6-10. Moist ground beside streams and ditches, (s.L ?) 450-2440 m. Described from Europe (Hb. Linn. 999/13!). Mainly N. Turkey, S. & E. Anatolia. A1(E) Edirne: Edirne, A.Baytop (ISTE 14041)! A1(A) Çanakkale: Erenköy, 6 vii 1897, Am.! A2(E) Istanbul: Menekche, 4 viii 1902, Azn.! A2(A) Balikesir: Balikesir to Bandirma, Kayacık & Yalt. (ISTO 4396)! A3 Bolu: Ala Da., 1300 m, Alpay 220 (Hb. Hub.-Mor.)! A4 Kastamonu: Kastambuli (Kastamonu), Sint. 1892:5021! A5 Amasya: Amasya, Maniss. 665! A7 Gümüşane: Gümüşane, 1100 m, Balls 1750! A9 Çoruh: 1 km below Ardanuç, 450 m, Hub.-Mor, 15764! B2 Kütahya: between Simav and Dağardı, 850 m, E. Anglia Exped. D19! B8-Muş: Muş to Hinis, 2030 m, Buttler 16022! B9 Kars: 9 km from Iğdir to Kars, Hewitt 324! B10 Ağri: Ağri Da., Regel (EGE 8375)! C2 Antalya: Kara G. nr Yuva, 1000 m, D. 13911! C3 Konya: Beyşehir, D. 16115! C4 Konya: N.E. end of Suğla G., Spitz. 52! C7 Urfa: Siverek, Sint. 1888:1394. C8 Diyarbakir: nr Diyarbakir (Omer Agha), Sint. 1888:1608! C10 Hakkari: Yüksekova, 1950 m, Duncan & Tait 193! W. Europe eastwards (incI. Caucasia & N. Iran) to China. Euro-Sib, element. I. britannica and I. oculus-christi are undoubtedly closely related to each other and have often been confused. The former, however, is much more of a lush meadow plant than I. oculus-christi, generally with stems that are more branched, leaves less densely villous, more numerous and smaller capitula with herbaceous, spreading phyllaries. These are the characters that have traditionally been used to separate the species and, because of their variability, specimens of each have commonly been misidentified. The presence of hairs on the ligules of I. oculus-christi and, particularly, the gland-fringed phyllaries of I. britannica are therefore useful additional characters, and a consideration of them, in conjunction with the traditional ones, must leave few specimens in question. Sintenis 1394 (C7 Urfa) represents a variant of/, britannica which has not been collected elsewhere in Turkey. It has smaller (1 cm broad or less) and more numerous capitula with phyllaries that are adpressed, strongly glandular and not at all foliaceous at the apex. Ligules measure 5 mm and the achenes (0∙75 mm) are strongly pubescent and glandular. In Europe this species has been divided |