Rhaponticum heleniifolium
Rhaponticum heleniifolium is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the genus "'Rhaponticum" of the family Asteraceae. Description. The biological form of "Rhaponticum heleniifolium" is "hemicryptophyte" "scapose", as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves. Distribution. This quite rare plant occurs in Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria. Habitat. It grows in western Alps in sub-alpine and alpine meadows and stony slopes. This plant prefers calcareous soils, at altitudes from 750 to 2500 meters.