Though the three forms described below are very distinct there are intermediates and it seems inadvisable to create vars at present. It is not yet known how far the various forms noted are due to genetic differences and how far to modifications evoked by habitat conditions. No clear evidence has been adduced that hybridism plays a part. FL. 11-1. FT. 12-3.

Taproot stout, simple to paucicipital. Lvs 5-10 cm. long, including petiole, glab., glaucous, somewhat fleshy, deeply pinnatifid, lineolate when dry. Terminal lobe 5-15 × 4-15 mm., closely to rather distantly dentate-apiculate; lateral lobes close-set, densely dentate-apiculate, diminishing downwards regularly from c. 5 mm. long to minute teeth, cut to widened axis; petiole widening to broad base. Scapes 2-10 cm. long, at first clad in cottony tomentum mingled with glandular hairs, becoming nearly glab.; bracts 1-2, linear, near capitulum. Capitula up to 3 cm. long, 3-4 cm. diam. Florets c. 30. Bracteoles subulate to linear; outer phyll. narrow-ovate, densely white-tomentose, ± furnished with glandular hairs; inner phyll. up to 12 mm. long, narrow-ovate, subattenuate; tip glab., dark, fimbrillate. Fertile achenes c. 2 mm. long, distinctly but not strongly ribbed. Pappus-hairs c. 7 mm. long, finely barbellate.

Taproot stout, sts multicipital. Lvs 10-15 cm. long or more, including flattened petiole. Lamina membr., glab., lyrate, bright green; terminal lobe 3-5 × 2-3 cm., sinuately shallowly to rather deeply distantly lobu-late; lobules rounded, apiculate; lateral lobes diminishing from 1 cm. to 1 mm. long, confluent, merging into winged petiole. Scapes up to 15 cm. or more long, slender, sparingly tomentose, becoming glab. except near capitulum, furnished with c. 5 linear, distant bracts tomentose at base; glandular hairs few or absent. Capitula c. 1·5 cm. long, 1-1·5 cm. diam. Florets c. 30. Outer phyll. 3-5 mm. long; inner ovate-oblong, up to 15 mm. long; all ± densely clad on back in white tomentum and glandular hairs; tips glab., dark, finely toothed. Fertile achenes c. 3 mm. long, narrowed slightly to base, glab., primary ribs prominent. Pappus-hairs up to c. 8 mm. long, minutely barbellate in upper portion, flattened towards base.

2n = 126

2n = c. 108, 126

2n = 90

2n = c. 90