Centranthus ruber subsp. ruber

Perennial herb or subshrub to c. 1 m high, glabrous. Lower leaves petiolate, oblanceolate or narrow-elliptic, mostly 3.5–12 cm long and 1–5 cm wide, apex acute, base attenuate, margins more or less entire, younger leaves glaucous; upper leaves sessile, becoming ovate-acuminate, margins often dentate near inflorescences. Thyrses rounded or elongate, often divided into several cymose part-inflorescences; bracts linear, scale-like. Sepals numerous, inrolled at anthesis, spreading in fruit, plumose; corolla pink to rose-red (rarely white), tube slender, 7–11 mm long, basal spur 4–8 mm long, lobes oblong-lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, posterior lobe often slightly longer; stigma small, rounded. Cypsela oblong-ovoid, 3–4 mm long, compressed, surmounted by feathery pappus.  Flowers mainly Aug.–Dec.