Perennial herb to 60 cm tall, tufted, hairy. Stems erect, simple, scape-like. Basal leaves ovate to heart-shaped, to 10 cm long, to 8 cm wide, margins toothed, petiolate. Stem leaves few, small, stem-clasping, sessile. Capitula solitary, to 5 cm across; mostly spring. Florets yellow. Pappus absent from ray achenes. [D. caucasicum M. Bieb.]

SE Europe, Caucasus, Middle East

 

D. austriacum Jacq. from Europe is a robust herb to 1.2 m tall with large heartshaped lower leaves, smaller spathulate stem leaves, capitula to 6 cm across in groups at the apex of leafy stems and with yellow florets.

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.