Eryngium amethystinum

Eryngium amethystinum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Eryngium
Species:
E. amethystinum
Binomial name
Eryngium amethystinum

Eryngium amethystinum, the amethyst eryngo,[1] Italian eryngo[2] or amethyst sea holly, is a clump-forming, perennial, tap-rooted herb. Its stem is 30 to 50 cm long and is light blue to purple in colour. It has a basal circle of obovate, pinnate, spiny, leathery, mid-green leaves. It flowers in mid to late summer with cylindrical umbels, 2–3 cm long atop silvery blue bracts and branching stems. The plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean and prefers dry places and soils that are rich in calcium.[3]

References

  1. ^ NRCS. "Eryngium amethystinum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ^ The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Ed. Christopher Brickell. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London 1996. p414 ISBN 0 7513 0436 0