Dipsacus inermis Wall.

Flowering from July to August; fruiting from August to October.

Dipsacus inermis is close relative of Dipsacus chinensis, but differs from the latter in its segments of cauline leaves 1-3-paired (vs. more than 3-paired), heads 2-3.5 cm broad (vs. 3.5-4.9 cm), leaves glabrous abaxially (vs. spiny).

Dipsacus inermis is occurring in Xizang (Nyalam) of China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.

Herbs, perennial, 0.5-2 m tall. Tap root carrot-shaped, to 3.5 cm in diameter. Stems branched, usually 6-ridged, ridges with sparse spines. Basal leaves rosulate, long petiolate; leaf blade elliptic, 5-13 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, 3- or 5-segmented, or undivided but margin serrate, often wilted at anthesis, terminal segment much larger than lateral ones; cauline leaves petiolate to nearly sessile; petiole to 7 cm; leaf blade broadly lanceolate, 10-22 cm long, 3.5-7 cm wide, 3-segmented to pinnatifid, segments 2-, rarely 3-paired, terminal segment largest, ovate, all segments yellowish hirsute on both surfaces, serrate on margins. Heads globose or oblong, solitary or 3 in number, 2-3.5 cm broad at anthesis and in fruit; peduncles to 40 cm; involucrate bracts linear, white hirsute; bracts lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, 14-20 mm at anthesis, rostrum 5-9 mm, setose and hirsute on two lateral sides; involucels ovoid-columnar, 5-8 mm. Corolla white or yellowish, infundibular, 11-15 mm, lower thinly tubular part, 3.5-4 mm; limb 4-lobed, lobes unequal in size. Stamens 4, inserted at corolla tube, exserted. Style strongly exserted. Achenes narrowly ellipsoid, 4-angular, glabrous, ca. 4.5-1.5 mm.

The chromosomal number of Dipsacus inermis is 2n = 18 (Jee et al., 1989).

Growing in forests, grassy slopes, by streams; 2100-3900 m.