Biennial or perennial, ascending, 2-5 dm, the stems sparsely appressed-pubescent; stipules tapering to a long, lance-linear tip; lfls elliptic or oblong, widest at or below the middle; heads subglobose, sessile or on peduncles to 3 cm; fls 14-20 mm; cal-tube glabrous or sparsely hirsute, conspicuously pubescent within at the throat, 3.5-4.5 mm, the lobes narrow, spreading hairy, one 4-6 mm, four 2-5 mm; pet purple, the standard obovate-oblong, about as long as the wings; 2n=ca 70-84+. Native of Europe, sometimes escaped from cult. in e. U.S. and N.S. June-Aug.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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