View source for Saussurea angustifolia

{{Plant2000
|anther coloration=purple
|apex shape=acute
|array architecture=open;crowded
|base shape=acute
|bristle coloration=brownish
|bristle position=outer;inner
|corolla coloration=purple
|face coloration=green;purplish
|face external texture=pilose;tomentose
|leaf architecture=sessile
|leaf position=basal;cauline
|leaf size=smaller
|margin shape=entire;dentate
|phyllary position=outer;inner;outer
|phyllary shape=ovate;lanceolate
|phyllary size=unequal
|receptacle architecture or external texture=scaly
|rhizome size=slender
|stem architecture=simple
|stem count=few
|stem orientation=arising;ascending
|tip shape=acute
|whole organism external texture=tomentose;glabrescent
|whole organism life style=plant
|whole organism other=herbage
}}
Extreme forms of the varieties of Saussurea angustifolia are distinctive, ranging from slender, erect, subglabrous specimens of var. angustifolia to dwarf, densely pubescent forms of vars. viscida and yukonensis. The extremes are connected by intermediates. As is indicated by the synonymy, little unanimity exists in the interpretation of these taxa. I have chosen to follow S. L. Welsh (1974) in treating S. densa as a variety of S. angustifolia rather than as a distinct species. The extent to which the differences among these taxa are genetic or environmentally induced has not been investigated.
anther coloration	purple +
apex shape	acute +
array architecture	open + and crowded +
base shape	acute +
bristle coloration	brownish +
bristle position	outer + and inner +
corolla coloration	purple +
face coloration	green + and purplish +
face external texture	pilose + and tomentose +
leaf architecture	sessile +
leaf position	basal + and cauline +
leaf size	smaller +
margin shape	entire + and dentate +
phyllary position	outer + and inner +
phyllary shape	ovate + and lanceolate +
phyllary size	unequal +
receptacle architecture or external texture	scaly +
rhizome size	slender +
stem architecture	simple +
stem count	few +
stem orientation	arising + and ascending +
tip shape	acute +
whole organism external texture	tomentose + and glabrescent +
whole organism life style	plant +
whole organism other	herbage +