Scrophulariaceae

P. comosa L,, Sp. Pl, 609 (1753). Figure 24, p. 771.
Perennial. Stems 8-60 cm, erect, unbranched, eglandular pubescent or villous. Leaves oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, bipinnatisect, serrate, 5-13(-20)x 1-2.7 cm; basal with 3-15 cm petioles, cauline several, alternate. Inflorescence a many-flowered, dense or ± lax, oblong, lanate-villous to subglabrous spike. Lower bracts leaf-like, exceeding flowers, upper entire or lobed, ± equalling calyx. Pedicels ± erect, 1-3.5 mm. Calyx cylindrical-campanulate, 10-17 mm; tube 8-15 mm.; lobes 1-4 mm, broader than long, broadly ovate. Corolla creamy white to yellow, 24-32 mm; tube 10-17 mm, cylindrical; upper lip incurved, ± rostrate with two small apical teeth. Anthers not mucronate; 2 filaments villous, 2 glabrous. Capsule ovoid, c. 15x6 mm, glabrous, acute at apex. Fl. 5-8. Limestone and igneous slopes, alpine screes, edge of forests, damp meadows, fallow fields, 1000-3600 m.
l. Inflorescence ± compact, villous; stems 8-30(-40) cm var. sibthorpii
l. Inflorescence elongate, ± lax, glabrous to pubescent; stems 20-60 cm var. acmodonta
var. acmodonta (Boiss.) Boiss., Fl. Or. 4:492 (1879). Syn: P. acmodonta Boiss., Diagn. ser. 1 (4):84 (1,844); P. daghestanica Bonati in Bull. Soc. Bot. Geneve ser. 2,5:36(1913).
Syntypes: [Turkey B7?] in Cappadocia ad Euphratem, Aucher 1921(G); [N.W. Iran] monte Savalan Persiae borealis, Aucher 5082 (G).
N.E. & Inner Anatolia. A5 Corum: 19 km from Alaca to Sungurlu, 1200 m, Coode & Jones 1672! A7 Gümüşane: Stadodopi (nr Uya Da.), Sint. 1894:7244b! A8 Erzurum: 59 km from Erzurum to Tortum, 1900 m, Hub.-Mor. 15507. A9 Kars: Kars, 1800 m, D. 29570! B3 Kütahya: Uşak to Kütahya, c. 3 km N. of Dumlupinar, 1280 m, Bııttler 13589! B4 Ankara: Beynam forest, 1000 m, Mark-graf 11059! B5 Niğde: Bereketli Maden, 1600 m, Siehe 1906:392! B6 Sivas: Pinarbaşi, 1300 m, Stn. & Hend. 5150! B7 Erzincan: Egin (Kemaliye), Sint. 1889:930! B8 Erzincan: Tercan to Aşkale, 1650 m, D. 29354! B9 Bitlis: Tatvan, 1750 m, D. 23603! B9 Van: Hoşap to Başkale, Çuh pass, 2820 m, Hub.-Mor. 11406. C10 Hakkari: 10 km from Yüksekova to Şemdinli, 1950 m, D. 45145!
Caucasus, Georgia, Iran. By far the commonest and most variable species in Turkey.
Although the two varieties I have recognized can generally be distinguished, intermediates do occur: A4 Ankara: Ravli to Kalecik, 1000 m, D. 21408! A9 Kars: Horasan to Karaurgan, 2000 m, D. 29516! B4 Ankara: S.E. of Ankara, 1200 m, Rix et al. 695! B5 Yozgat: Akdağmadeni, Aktaş, Curtis 131! The type variety, from southern Europe, has not been collected in Turkey but the following somewhat intermediate gathering approaches it: A1(E) Kirklareli: Istranca Da., Demirköy to Velikaköy, Kayacik 65!
The recognition of varieties in P. comosa is a provisional treatment. Some currently recognized Caucasian and S.E. European species might be better included within P. comosa at infraspecific level; the entire complex is in need of revision. The external distributions given above are certainly incomplete.

Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.	Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.	Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.	Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.
Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.	Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.	Pedicularis comosa L. var. acmodonta (BOISS.) BOISS.