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Centaurea reichenbachii DC

Flora Europaea mesoxeric calciphile saxicole grassland element western Carpathian Stipo pulcherrimae-Festucion pallentis, Seslerion rigidae R3401, R3402, R3403, R3406 habitats in Romania only in Trascau Mountains and Scarita-Belioara massif. The indications from Iron Gates area maybe should be checked for not being based on a mistake for forms of Centaurea calvescens with darker appendages           This xeric saxicole calciphyle species is endemic for the western Carpathians, being present on the eastern side of the Apuseni Mountains and around the Iron Gates. It is very similar to the ruderal and much widespread Centaurea biebersteinii DC. The nature of the ecological vicariance between the two so closely related taxa which are very different in regarding their ecological behaviour and overall success should be investigated further. The pictures below were taken in Piatra Cetii natural reservation area, Trascau Mountains, Alba county in between May and September 2005. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.com   As you can see from the two images above in the very same location (Piatra Cetii massif, Trascau Mountains) there can be populational groups with epappose or almost epappose achenae (in the way the species is mostly characterized) and other groups within which all individuals have a very short pappus (much shorter than in the closely related and much widespread Centaurea biebersteinii DC) like in 'Centaurea reichenbachii DC ssp. dacica (Borza)' a taxon which can be reconsidered for the rank of a variety; it can make the linkage towards Centaurea biebersteinii DC. Also the achenes of Centaurea reichenbachii seem to be much elongated than the ones of Centaurea biebersteinii and dark brown or blackish (not light brown or light grey).