Echinops sphaerocephalus
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Echinops sphaerocephalus, known by the common names glandular globe-thistle,[1] great globe-thistle[2] or pale globe-thistle, is a Eurasian species of globe-thistle belonging to the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae.
Description
Echinops sphaerocephalus is a glandular, woolly perennial herbaceous plant with an average height of Script error: No such module "convert"., occasionally reaching 200 cm (80 inches).[3]
Its erect branching, gray, slightly wrinkled and hairy stems bear the occasional large, soft, sharply toothed, sharp-lobed pointed green leaves. They are sticky hairy above, and white woolly below.[3]
Atop each stem is an almost perfectly spherical inflorescence up to 6 cm in diameter, packed with white or blue-gray disc florets. It flowers from June until September.[3][4]
The flowers are pollinated by insects (usually bees, wasps and butterflies) (entomogamy) and are hermaphrodite (self fertilization or autogamy). The fruits are hairy cylindrical achenes about 7 to 8 mm long. They ripen from September through October. The seeds are dispersed by wind (anemochory).[3]
Distribution
This species is widespread across much of Eurasia but it lives on other continents where it was introduced, including North America where it is a widespread weed.[3][5][2] It is very common in the mountains of southern France and southern and central Europe.[6]
Habitat
It grows in sunny, rocky or brushy places in more or less mineral rich soils at an altitude of Script error: No such module "convert". above sea level.
- Subspecies[7]
- Echinops sphaerocephalus subsp. albidus (Boiss. et Spruner) Kozu.
- Echinops sphaerocephalus subsp. sphaerocephalus
- Echinops sphaerocephalus subsp. taygeteus (Boiss. & Heldr.) Kožuharov
Gallery
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Illustration of Echinops sphaerocephalus from Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885
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Close-up on flowers of Echinops sphaerocephalus
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Inflorescence of Echinops sphaerocephalus pollinated by a butterfly
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Leaf of Echinops sphaerocephalus
References
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- ↑ Template:BSBI 2007
- ↑ a b Flora of North America, Great globe-thistle, boulette commune, Echinops sphaerocephalus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 814. 1753.
- ↑ a b c d e Flora of China, 蓝刺头 lan ci tou Echinops sphaerocephalus Linnaeus
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, Cardo pallotta maggiore, drüsige Kugeldistel, bolltistel, Echinops sphaerocephalus L. includes photos and European distribution map
- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
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External links
- Template:Sister-inline
- Template:Sister-inline
- ASTERACEAE, SUNFLOWER FAMILY, The Jepson Manual, University of California
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
- Globe Thistle, Ontario Weeds
- Echinops sphaerocephalus, alterVISTA
- Czech Botany