Bombycilaena (DC.) Smolj.

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 : 125

17. Bombycilaena (DC.) Smolj. 1

Lanate annuals. Leaves alternate, narrowed to the apex. Capitula 2-3, aggregated in terminal or axillary clusters, subglobose. Receptacle cylindrical. Bracts in 2(-3) rows, the outer small, the inner saccate, strongly compressed laterally, densely patent-lanate, coriaceous in fruit, each enclosing one female floret and falling together with the achene. Female florets with a filiform, 2-dentate corolla attached laterally to the ovary; inner florets sterile, with 5-dentate, broadly tubular corolla. Achenes obovoid, compressed; pappus absent.

Literature: L. A. Smoljaninova, Not. Syst. (Leningrad) 17: 447-454 (1955).

The two species have been very often confused; both grow in dry, open habitats.

Clusters of capitula 8-10 mm wide, greyish-white-lanate, usually overtopped by subtending leaves; inner bracts 5-8, 2-3 mm in fruit; leaves 1 -4-2- 5 mm wide, ± undulate 1. erecta

Clusters of capitula 10-16 mm wide, brownish-lanate, usually not overtopped by subtending leaves; inner bracts 4-5, 3-4 mm in fruit; leaves 2-5 mm wide, flat 2. discolor