Cicerbita alpina

Cicerbita alpina
Cicerbita alpina
Cicerbita alpina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Cichorieae
Genus: Cicerbita
Species: C. Alpina
Binomial name
Cicerbita alpina
(L.) Wallr.
Synonyms
  • Lactuca alpina (L.) A. Gray
  • Mulgedium alpinum (L.) Less.
  • Sonchus alpinus L.

Cicerbita alpina or Alpine Blue-sow-thistle is a perennial herbaceous plant species belonging to the genus Cicerbita of the Asteraceae family.

Contents

Description

Cicerbita alpina reaches on average 80 centimetres (31 in) of height, with a minimum height of 50 centimetres (20 in) and a maximum height of 150–200 centimetres (59–79 in). The stem contains a kind of latex. The leaves are broad, triangular and amplexicaul. It has many blue-violet to purple flowers in clusters. The flowering period extends from June to September.

Gallery

Flowers of Cicerbita alpina
Flower of Cicerbita alpina
Leaf of Cicerbita alpina

Distribution

Alpine Blue-sow-thistle grows on all the mountains of Europe (the Alps, the Pyrenees, the northern Apennines, the Scandinavian Peninsula, Scotland, Carpathians and the Urals).

Habitat

These plants can be found in alpine woods on average at 1,000–1,800 metres (3,300–5,900 ft) above sea level.

References

  • Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982. vol. III


External links

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