P. major L., Sp. PL 112 (1753). Ic: Hegi, ID. Fl. Mittel-Eur. ed. 2, 6(1): t. 246 f. 3(1974).
Perennial, (4-)10-50(-70) cm, with one or few rosettes. Leaves 3-37 x 1-11.5 cm, lamina elliptic-ovate to rotund-ovate, ± entire, irregularly dentate or undulate, petiole often equalling lamina. Scapes 3-30 cm, slightly sulcate or striate, equalling or exceeding leaves, shortly hairy. Spike 4-40 cm, narrowly cylindrical, lax at base but otherwise dense. Lower bracts 2-2.5 mm, longer than sepals, upper 1 mm, shorter than sepals, ovate, glabrous. Sepals 2-2.5 mm, subequal, glabrous, green. Corolla tube 2.5-3 mm, glabrous; lobes less than 1 mm, triangular. Capsule 2-4 mm, ovoid-conical. Seeds 6-30, trigonous, ellipsoid.
1. Leaves 5-9-veined, ± cordate at base, thick, dark green, glabrescent; seeds (6-)10-13 subsp. major
1. Leaves 3-5-veined, gradually narrowed into petiole, usually thin, yellowish-green, puberulent; seeds 14-30 subsp. intermedia subsp. major. Fl. 6-8. Stream- and riversides, ditches, pathsides, arable land, pasture, waste places, s.l.-2440 m.
Described from Europe (Hb. Linn. 144/1, photo).
N. Turkey, C. & S. Anatolia. A1(E) Kirklareli: nr Velika köprüsü, A. Bay-top (ISTE 13892)! A2(E) Istanbul: 1-2 km from Selimpaşa to Silivri, Bulut (ISTF 23315)! A2(A) Bursa: Uludağ, Elma çukuru, Başarman (ISTF 3547)! A3 Bolu: d. Düzce, Gümüşova, Çukurhan, Tüzün (ISTF 25589)! A4 Kasta-monu: N. side of Ilgaz Da., 1350 m, D. 38435! A6 Ordu: Fatsa to Aybasti, 400 m, Tobey 1333! A7 Giresun: below Tamdere, 1600 m, D. 20667(!). A8 Çoruh: Şavval Tepe above Murgul, at Gölbaşı Y., 1700 m, D. 32356! A9 Kars: 4 km from Kağizman to Karaurgan, 2200 m, D. 46600! B6 Sivas: Sivas, Arslan (ISTF 19105)! B7 Diyarbakir: Çüngüş, 910-950 m, Demiriz & Alakus (DUF 1016)! B9 Ağri: Eleşkirt to Tutak, Tong 385! B10 Ağri: Doğubayazit, 915 m, Hewitt 154(!). C3 Antalya: Aksu, W. of Çalkaya (Mandirlar), Kaymak (ISTF 24114)! C5 Adana: Yaylapinar, Çardak, Eldaş (ISTF 23863)! subsp. intermedia (Gilib.) Lange, Handb. Danske Fl. ed. 2:107 (1856-59). Syn: P. intermedia Gilib., Hist. PL Eur. ed. 2, 1:125 (1806);P. major L. subsp. pleiosperma Pilger in Engler, Pflanzenreich 102 (IV.269):47 (1937). Fl. 4-9. Pinus woodland, irrigated fields, ditches, marshes, rocky mountain slopes, often in saline habitats, s.l. -2200 m.
Type: [France] dans les terrains sablonneux de l'ile Perrache, 30 viii, Gili-bert.
Widespread. A1(E) Tekirdağ: Yenice (S. of Inecik), 610 m, E. Anglia Exped. F16! A1(A) Balıkesir: Bandirma, 50 m, Sünter (ISTF 33804)! A2(E) Istanbul: Büyükdere, Bahçeköy, Belgrad forest, Demiriz et al. (ISTF 24609)! A2(A) Istanbul: Yalova, si., Tutel (ISTF 23403)! A3 Sakarya: Karasu to Söğütlü, 30 m, D. 39082! A6 Tokat: Reşadiye, Çambali, Şahin (ISTE 30918)! Bl Balikesir: Edremit, S.W. of Akçay, s.l., Tutel (ISTF 22522)! B2 Kütahya: d. Gediz, Murat Da. below Hamam, 1350 m, Çirpici (ISTF 30937)! B3 Afyon: Taşköprü, Akşehir G., Aellen 1014! B5 Kayseri: Kayseri to Pinarbaşi, 40 km N.E. of Kayseri, 1000 m, McNeill 418! B7 Elaziğ: 3 km from Maden to Elaziğ, 990 m, Demiriz et al. (DUF 707)! B8 Erzurum: Atatürk Üniversitesi lojmanlari to Büyükkiremitlik Tepe, 1870 m, Demiriz et al. (ATA 730)! B9 Bitlis: d. Tatvan, Karz Da. above Sapur, 2200 m, Peşmen 3247! C1 Aydin: Kuşadasi,Regel (EGE 1815)! C2 Denizli: Honaz to Menteş, 620 m, Tuzlaci (ISTE 23539)! C3 Isparta: Aksu (Anamas), 1500 m, Sorger 68-37-94! C4 Konya: Konya to Kayacik, D. 14736! C5 Adana: Adana, s.l., viii 1964, Llywelyn-Williams (!). Cβ Adana: d. Feke, Göksu gorge below Himmetli, 700-800 m, D. 19805! C10 Hakkari: Yüksekova, 1950 m, Duncan & Tait 195!
Distribution of species: Temperate Eurasia & N. America. The leaves are used as a salad in E. Anatolia. A gathering from C6 Adana: nr Hasanbeyli, 915-1220 m, Darrah 692(!) has 5-7-veined cuneate to truncate puberulent leaves and thus is intermediate between subsp. major and subsp. intermedia.
Sect. Coronopus DC. emend. Decne. Corolla tube pubescent.