Besides specimens of the typical plant, I have collected, on very dry, sunny declivi- 

 ties, a number of specimens differing in various respects, and which I enter as 



var. monocephalus nov. var. [Tab. XVJ. 



Ab forma iypica differt caulibus humilibus, 10-20, raw ad 30 cm. altis, simplicibtis, 

 capituUs singulis erectis. Raro caulis superne ramosus, ramis capiiulo solitario iermi- 

 natis. Capitula majora, 20-25 mm. diametro. Squamae involucri exteriores 12-H mm. 

 longae, angusiissimae, basi 0,5-0,8 mm. latae, superne sensim atlenualae, acuminalae, 

 nervo intermedia plus minus distincto instructae, in spinam contractae, dense appressae 

 numquam patentes vei recurvatae, dense arachnoideae, marginibus scabris. Squamae 

 involucri interiores circ. 3 mm. exleriores superantes, inferne virides, glabrae, superne 

 leviter sUbrubro-violaceae, basi circ. 1 mm. latae, superne leviler altenualae, apice baud 

 distincte acuminatae, puberulentae, nervo baud perspicuo instriictae. Folia supra sparse 

 arachnoided-villosa, subfusco viridia, subtus albo-lomentosa. 



This subspecies is readily distinguished by having the stems short, mostly simple, 

 bearing a solitary, erect, comparatively large head. The stems, which are generally soli- 

 tary or a couple together, are short, commonly only 10 — 20 cm. long, rarely longer, some- 

 limes so short as not to overtop the basal leaves. The stems are only rarely, near the 

 top, furnished with a single, or rarely two short branches, bearing one head each; An 

 unbranched stem seemed to be commonest, and when branched at all, it is always only in 

 the upper part, the branches being always rather short. The stems and branches always 

 terminate in a single head, which is comparatively large, 20 — 25 mrn. in diameter, 

 erect, never nodding. The peduncles are always very short, so that the heads generally 

 do not much overtop the upper stem-leaves. The stem is, throughout its length, densely 

 white-tomentose, winged, and densely prickly. These prickles seemed to form nearly a 

 whorl beneath the heads. Length of the prickles about 1,5 mm. The leaves are rather 

 deeply sinuate-pinnatifid into triangular, toothed segments, the teeth prickle-pointed. The 

 under sides of the leaves are densely white-felted, the upper sides, especially along the 

 nerves, sparingly pubescent, and more or less distinctly arachnoid. The upper sides are 

 generally of a yellowish or brownish tinge, whereby the whole plant assumes a brownish 

 or olive green colour. The involucre is hemisperical, rather densely arachnoid. The 

 outer involucral bracts are 12 — 14 mm. long, very narrow, only 0,5—0,8 mm. broad near 

 the base, tapering above, and acuminate, with a distinct midrib, prolonged into a short, 

 fine prickle, always densely appressed, never protruding or recurvate. The inner bracts 

 of the involucre are about 3 mm. longer than the outer ones, green below, of a reddish or 

 violet tinge above, about 1 mm. broad below, tapering above, but not acumminate, near 

 the summit finely puberulent, and frequently furnished with a midrib, only, by the way, 

 slightly prominent. The structure of the individual flowers agrees Avith the typical form, 

 being 14—15 mm. long, with a pappus about 10 mm. long. 



This subspecies has been found by me on the Abakan Steppe, near Ust Kamuishto, 

 where occurring on very dry, hot and sunny declivities, among sand and gravel, together 

 with Leonurus tataricus, Panzeria lanaia, and other xerophilous plants. 



431 



