紫花拐轴鸦葱 zi hua guai zhou ya cong

Florets pale purple. Achene apically villous.

● Hills, slopes, plains at base of mountains; ca. 1500 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol (Hohhot).

Scorzonera divaricata var. sublilacina, originally described by Maximowicz from material from Nei Mongol and Gansu with capitula of up to 15 pale purple florets, was referred by Lipschitz (Fragm. Monogr. Scorzonera 2: 124. 1939) to this species rather than to S. pseudodivaricata as were the other varieties with more numerous florets than is usual in S. divaricata. A reassessment of this taxon and its affinity appears worthwhile considering the frequent confusion between plants of S. divaricata and S. pseudodivaricata. Because the yellow ligules of both S. divaricata and S. pseudodivaricata can become pinkish on drying, floret color needs to be established on living plants.

Scorzonera divaricata var. sublilacina is used medicinally for treating serious cases of boils.