| Viper's grass | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Scorzonera |
| Species: | S. humilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Scorzonera humilis L. |
|
Scorzonera humilis, English name Viper's-grass, is a very rare perennial plant found only in Dorset, Warwick in England, and South Wales, in moist meadows.
It differs from Goats Beard Tragopogon pratensis in that it has short, pale green bracts, whereas in Goats Beard they are long and pointed.
It grows 7 to 50cm.
The leaves are unbranched, elliptical-lanceolate.
The flower heads are 2.5cm wide, and deep yellow in colour. Flowers from May until July.
The achenes are smooth ribbed, beakless, with similar pappus to Goats Beard Tragopogon pratensis.
It exudes a milky juice from its stem.