2010-09-01 Burgenland, district Neusiedl/See (Hackelsberg - Junger Berg, 170 m AMSL).Flower, backside.ID: Fischer & al., Exkursionsflora A FL SdT (2008 3rd); typical for this one - I have to give in German terminology as I don't know the equivalent English botanical terms (according to Fischer): Die 'scheinbaren' Zungenblten sind in der Tat vergrsserte innere Hllbltter, die den Schauapparat darstellen; die Blten selbst enthalten nur Rhrenblten, keine Zungenblten!
Xeranthemum cylindraceum is an east Mediterranean annual, blooming in the end of spring. Here u can see its seedling with two first green leaves (cotyledons) and two mature silvery leaves. Locally the plant is endangered.
Xeranthemum cylindraceum is a beautiful delicate annual. In Israel it is extremely rare and endangered. This picture is misleading because the plant has small flowering heads and very long slender stems.