Native to mainland western Europe, excluding Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Spain and Portugal.
Perennial forb in the Asteraceae growing 30-150 cm in its native range and similar in stature to other Centaurea. Stems are loosely tomentose with septate hairs. Lower leaves are oblanceolate to elliptic; cauline leaves are sessile and at most dentate, only rarely lobed. Flower heads are either radiant or discoid. Phyllaries are diagnostic, but range from lanceolate to ovate with appendages that are overlapping, dark brown, and flat. Florets are generally lavender to purple, consisting of both outer radiate sterile and inner discoid fertile members, with florets numbering 40-100 per head. Fruits have either no pappus or unequal small bristles. Variable ploidy: 2N=22 and 44 (predominantly) in native range.
None.