Pluchea arguta Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. Ser. 2, 3: 5. 1856.; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 3: 273. 1881; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 768. 1972; Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 145: 8. 1980; S. Kumar in Hajra et al., Fl. Ind. 13: 154. 1995.
An erect branched, stout shrub, pungent, stem and branches terete, glutinous-pubescent to papillose or almost glabrous. Leaves quite variable, 1.5-3 (-3.5) x 0.3-0.8 (2.0) cm, sessile, alternate, sessile, attenuate at base, oblong-oblanceolate or obovate, acute to subacute, coarsely serrate, dentate, teeth 5-7, sharp, densely glandulose to papillose or completely glabrous on both surfaces. Capitula ovoid or campanulate, 4-12 mm in diameter, solitary or few arranged in subcorymbose fashion; receptacle flat, naked; peduncle glandular hairy to almost glabrous; phyllaries 5-6-seriate, outer lanceolate, acute, serrate, pubescent, 2-3 x c. 0.5 mm, middle acute, pubescent, slightly longer than the outer ones, inner linear acute, entire, 5-7 x c. 0.5 mm. Florets pink or violet, marginal florets female, filiform, many; disc florets bisexual, fewer 6-20 (-30). Anther bases caudate. Cypselas small, linear to spindle shaped; pappus setae 6-7 (-10).
A variable species, particularly, the leaf breadth and the indumentum. Densely glandular pubescent to almost glabrous forms are met with in our region.Two subspecies are recognized.
