Echinops L.

	Echinops sp.: stem

globe thistle

globe thistle

Most commonly cultivated

Echinops bannaticus Rochel ex Schräd. (=E. ritro hort. non L.)

E. ritro ssp. ruthenicus (Bieb.) Nyman (=E. ruthenicus Bieb.)

Other species

E. exaltatus Schräd. (=E. commutatus Juratzka)

E. sphaerocephalus L.

Central and southern Europe to central Asia.

Longitudinally grooved stems bearing subentire to deeply bi-pinnatifid leaves with prickly teeth or lobes, and one or several terminal, head-like inflorescences; each inflorescence actually a spherical aggregation of individual one-flowered heads, each head subtended by its own involucre in several series; outer involucral bracts bristle-like, inner bracts linear or broad, marginally fringed; all floret corollas salverform, with 5 long, linear, recurved corolla lobes, and exserted anther tube; pappus a crown of many small scales.

Inflorescences 2.5-5(6) cm across, blue, grey-blue, or white.

Allium

Kenya