Eryngium planum

Flat leaf holly ( Eryngium planum )

The flat- leaf holly ( Eryngium planum ), also called flat- leaf Sea Holly is a occurring in Central, South and Eastern Europe and in Asia Umbelliferae ( Apiaceae ). The species is also cultivated as an ornamental plant and is partly overgrown.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The flat- leaf holly grows as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth from 40 to 70, sometimes 30 to 100 centimeters. The entire plant is thistle -like, the undivided, oblong basal leaves are serrated to eilänglichen thorny. The Spreitengrund the basal leaves is heart-shaped. Above, the plant is blue overcrowded.

Generative features

The flowers of the flat leaf litter man standing together in a nearly spherical, 1 to 1.5 cm long, mostly blue to purple head. The inflorescence is surrounded at the base of 1.5 to 6 centimeters long, protruding bracts. The undivided bracts are removed entire to spiny -serrate. The flowers have a five-fold crown and 5 stamens and 2 stylus. The sepals run into a thorny spike tip.

Ecology

The flowering of this hemicryptophytes ranges in Central Europe from June to September and sometimes until October.

Occurrence and risk

The distribution area of the flat sheet - man litter is located in Central Europe, Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, Kazakhstan and China. The main distribution area is Eastern Europe. In German-speaking he performs in Austria and Germany.

In Austria, very rare occurrences are known only from the Pannonian region. Here in Lower Austria ( in Marchtal ) delivers the type, as well as unstable or at most locally naturalized in Vienna, Upper Austria, Styria and Carinthia. The locations are alternating wet meadows, pasture grass, river banks and dams of hill height level. General sandy soils are preferred. In Austria, the flat sheet - holly as threatened with extinction applies.