Distinguished by the leaves being linear to linear-lanceolate; basal lvs absent, reduced, or similar in size to the cauline leaves. Weber recognizes two "well-marked" races: ssp. scabra, with the outher phyl coarsely hirsute, and ssp. canescens Weber, with the phyls closely imbricated with recurved tips, and covered with fine appressed hairs. (3) "A handsome but rather coarse palnt, with numerous stems from a woody base (2) Welsh writes, "Segregation of the proposed varieties is an exercise in frustration" (5)