Asteriscus aquaticus (L.) Less., it is an annual herb, up to 10-15 cm tall, suffruticose, simple or dichotomously branched, hairy; branches erecto-patent, usually near the apex. Leaves 5-8 x 0.15-1.5 cm, oblanceolate-spathulate to oblong, entire, obtuse, with simple, adpressed hairs. Lower leaves tapering down in a narrow petiole. Upper leave sessile with ± semiamplexicaul bases. Capitula 12-14 mm in dim, (including ray florets), yellow, sessile in the angle between the bifurcation of the branches or terminal on short peduncles. Involucral bracts of 1st, row 16-18 (-20) x 5 mm, broadly lanceolate, acute, hairy on both surfaces, basal portion coriaceous, rest ± fleshy-foliaceous, margins hairy. Involucral bracts of 2nd, row 13-15 x 5 mm, oblong, obtuse, hairy on surfaces. basal part coriaeeous, rest foliaceous, margins hairy. Involucral bracts of 3rd row 9-10 x 4 mm, oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, outer surface sparsely hairy, the inner surface very sparsely hairy in the upper part only, margins in the lower part papillate, upper part sparsely hairy. Palea 3-4.5 x 2-3.5 mm, oblong-obovate, obtuse, slightly concave, the peripheral ± coriaceous, the central one membranous, margins near the apex papillate or sparsely hairy. Ray Florets 17-18, 1-rowed, yellow. Corolla 5.5 x 2-2.5 mm (includ. basal tube 1.75 mm and lobes 0.25 mm), ligule narrowly wedged shaped, 3-lobed, the ribs on the back hairy; basal tube weakly 3-angular, hairy. Ovary 2-2.25 mm, 3-angled, hairy, pappose; hairs silky white; pappus of 6-7 scales; scales 0.75-1mm long, sharply aristate. Disc florets yellow. Corolla 2.5-2.75 mm, tubular campanulate, glabrous, 5-Iobed; lobes 0.75 mm, acute. Ovary 1.5 mm, obconical 4-angled, hairy, pappose; pappus of 6-7 scales; scales c. 0.75 mm, sharply aristate.
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