Authors: L.
A more or less tufted species, variously behaving as an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial, ranging from 15-45cm in height depending on soil and situation. Stem leaves linear-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, with crenate to crimped margins. Flowerheads 1.5-3.5cm in diameter, blue, occasionally white or pink, early to late summer. Most of Europe, western Turkey and North Africa including Great Britain and Scandinavia, in open grassy places on acid sandy or stony soils. A variable plant in all its characters; subsp. echinata being taller and more robust, the leaves and stems white hispid. South-eastern Spain. J. blepharodon also from southern Spain is a smah annual version.
a, J. crispa; b, J. montana;