Authors: L.
with prostrate rooting and branching stems to 30cm in length and ascending flowering shoots 10cm or more in height. Leaves linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, l-3cm long, downy-hairy. Flowers 1.2-2cm in diameter, with notched petals, spring and summer. Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia and North America, in dry grassland, especially on alkaline and sandy soils. Several subspecies are known differing mainly in habit, height, hairiness and flower size.
