Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Saussurea alpina / Alpine sawwort

Saussurea alpina (L.) DC.

Alpine sawwort (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadVery strong tendencyN
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Saussurea alpina is a shy-flowering Arctic–Alpine plant of base-rich mountains; it is widespread in Scotland but rare elsewhere.

Stob Coire Sgrìodain (VC97: West Inverness); 2020-07-21

 Alpine sawwort / Saussurea alpina: _Saussurea alpina_ is a shy-flowering <a href="aa.html">Arctic–Alpine</a> plant of base-rich mountains; it is widespread in Scotland but rare elsewhere.

Saussurea alpina is related to thistles, but lacks their spiny leaves and has blunt phyllaries; its flowers are blue, but the pappus hairs are pure white.

Stob Coire Sgrìodain (VC97: West Inverness); 2020-07-21

 Alpine sawwort / Saussurea alpina: _Saussurea alpina_ is related to thistles, but lacks their spiny leaves and has blunt phyllaries; its flowers are blue, but the pappus hairs are pure white.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne