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Homogyne alpina
Homogyne alpina, the Alpine coltsfoot or purple colt's-foot,[1] is a rhizomatous herb in the family Asteraceae, which is often used as an ornamental plant. The plant has purple-red flowers, and it is usually associated with the gall flies Ensina sonchi and Acidia cognata. Homogyne alpina is a perennial plant that reaches a height of 10 to 40 centimeters. The rhizome is creeping woolly and scaly. The stem is erect, reddish brown and often single head. It is hairy silvery-woolly, bare later and usually has 2 leaves on small scales. The leaves are all basal, long-stalked, leathery, coarse and glossy dark green, the underside is lighter. The leaf blade is heart-kidney-shaped. The flower heads have a diameter up to 15 mm. The bracts are in a single row, crowded and hairy brown-red woolly at the base. The flowers are purple. DistributionHomogyne alpina grows in the mountains of South Central Europe at altitudes from 500 to 3 000 meters. The species grows on moist, humus-rich, mossy soil in coniferous forests, bushes and dwarf-shrub heath. In the U.K., it is known from a single location in Angus, Scotland.[2]: 811 It is uncertain whether the plant is native or introduced.[3] Similar speciesThe felt-like Homogyne discolor is characterized by the under side white, felty leaves. References
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