Ixeris gracilis
(Wallich ex DC.) Stebbins in J. Bot. 75: 50. 1939. Lactuca gracilis
Wallich ex DC., Prodr. 7: 140. 1838; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 410. 1881.
Herbs, annual, erect; stems 20 - 70 cm high, glabrous, solitary or many, branched
from the base. Leaves 5 - 20 x 0.5 - 1 cm, glabrous; radical leaves much longer, linear or
linear-lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire, rarely toothed; upper sessile. Inflorescence
terminal, corymbosely branched. Heads narrow, cylindric, 6 - 9 x 1.5 - 2.5 mm, erect.
Outer involucral bracts ovate, 1 - 1.2 x 0.5 - 0.6 mm, glabrous, minute; inner linear-lanceolate, 5 - 6 x 0.7 - 1 mm, glabrous. Ligule pale yellow or white. Achenes pale brown
or reddish brown, elliptic-lanceolate, much compressed, 3 - 4.5 or 5 mm long, very
slender, smooth. Pappus yellowish white, 3 - 4 mm long, deciduous.
KEY TO THE VARIETIES
| 1a. Stems thick; achenes with longer beak | 1.1. gracilis |
| b. Stems very slender; achenes with shorter beaks | 1.2. Khasiana |
