Scorzonera sect. Epilasia Bunge, Beitr. Fl. Russl. 200. 1852.

Herbs, annual, white pubescent or glabrous. Leaves undivided. Involucre ovoid-cylindric to globose. Phyllaries in 2 rows; outer phyllaries herbaceous, leaflike, usually longer than [or equaling] inner phyllaries; inner phyllaries usually 5. Receptacle naked. Florets pale yellow [or pale red or blue]. Achene blackish [or gray], ± cylindric, ribbed, ribs smooth or spinulose, base with somewhat broadened hollow cylindric carpophore, glabrous, apex truncate or apical half conic, unribbed, and covered and hidden by caplike pappus disk with pappus. Pappus arising from flat of caplike conic pappus disk, grayish or brownish, of soft bristles in several rows, persistent, very densely long lanately softly fimbriately plumose, longer bristles apically scabrid.

About three species: C and SW Asia; two species in China.

(Authors: Shi Zhu (石铸 Shih Chu); Norbert Kilian)