Cephalaria alpina, commonly known as the yellow cephalaria, alpine scabious or yellow scabious, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae native to the Alps in Europe.
Description Cephalaria alpina is a branched, perennial herbaceous plant growing to in height. The long stem is hairy, leaves are long and wide, petiolate, dentate and densely hairy on the underside. This plant shows pale yellow head-like inflorescences on the naked stems. The flowering period extends from June to August. Flora.nhm
Distribution and habitat This species is present in Western and Eastern Alps, in the northern Apennines and in the Swiss Jura. It prefers nutrient-rich and limestone soils at an elevation of above sea level.Schede di botanica
It has been declared a weed in Australia.
Ecology The flowers are visited by the white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and Bombus cryptarum.
References
Bibliography Gunter Steinbach (Hrsg.): Alpenblumen (Steinbachs Naturführer). Mosaik Verlag GmbH, München 1996, . Pignatti S. 1982 -Flora d'Italia. Bologna Zangheri P. 1976- Flora Italica. Padova Aeschimann D., Lauber K., Moser D.M., Theurillat J.P., 2004 - Flora Alpina. Bologna Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C., 2005 -An Annoted Checklist of the Italian Vascular Flora. Roma