ERYNGIUM CAMPESTRE

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- Field eryngo

Homotypic Synonyms:- Eryngium trifidum, Eryngium virens, Eryngium

vulgare

Meaning:- Eryngium (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus

for sea holly.

Campestre (L) Of the pasture.

General description:- Rigid, light green biennial or perennial,

Stems:-

1) 30-50 cm, erect, usually solitary, terete, divaricately much-branched in the upper

half.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, broadly ovate in outline, coriaceous, pale glaucous-green, usually 3-sect

with ± pinnatifid primary segments and broadly winged, spiny-dentate rhachis.

Flowers:-

1) Heads, 10-15 mm; numerous, pale green, in a broad synfllorescence occupying

most of the plant, pale green.

2) Bracts, 5 or 6, 15-45 mm long, rigid, entire, linear-lanceolate, spine-tipped, much

exceeding the inflorescence.

3) Petals, whitish.

Fruit:-

1) Ovoid to almost globe-shape achenes, with overlapping scales finishing in a

point.

Key features:-

1) Bracts, 5-7, ± flat at base.

2) Basal leaves, with 2-pinnatisect segments.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, dry pastures, fallow fields, olive groves, stony hillsides,

dry open shrubby vegetation, etc., generally 0-900(-1600) m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean and Europe

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- July-Sept.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton