| Eryngium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Eryngium bourgatii | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Apioideae |
| Tribe: | Saniculeae |
| Genus: | Eryngium Tourn. ex L.[1] |
| Diversity | |
| About 250 species | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Eryngium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. There are about 250 species.[1] The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with centres of diversity in the western Mediterranean, South America and Mexico.[2] Common names include eryngo and sea holly (though not to be confused with true hollies, of the genus Ilex).
These are annual and perennial herbs with hairless and usually spiny leaves. The dome-shaped umbels of steely blue or white flowers have whorls of spiny basal bracts. European and Asian species tend to be native to dry, rocky and coastal areas, and the American species are native to often damp grasslands.[3]
In the language of flowers, they represent admiration.[4]
- ^ a b c "Eryngium". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Calviño, C.I., Martínez, S.G. & Downie, S.R. (2008) The evolutionary history of Eryngium (Apiaceae, Saniculoideae): rapid radiations, long distance dispersals, and hybridizations. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46(3): 1129–1150.
- ^ Brickell, C., ed. (2016). RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley.
- ^ "Language of Flowers - Flower Meanings, Flower Sentiments". www.languageofflowers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.