Echinops ritro

Ruthenian globe thistle ( Echinops ritro )

The Ruthenian globe thistle ( Echinops ritro ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). It is native to eastern and southern Europe and is cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Features

The Ruthenian globe thistle is reached centimeters a perennial, herbaceous plant, the plant height of 20 to 70 (100). Ornamental forms are also higher. The leaves are rolled over on the edge. At the top they are glandular hairy, have a few simple hair and shiny. The underside is white tomentose. The leaves are twice pinnate.

The bracts are straight or slightly curved. The flowers are bluish- gray. The Pappusborsten are grown in the lower half. Flowering time is July and August. The achenes are cylindrical, five -edged and are hairy yellowish silky. The pappus is short scaly.

Dissemination

The area includes Western Asia, Eastern Europe, from Russia to the Czech Republic, the Balkans, Italy, Southern France and Spain.

The natural area has in the Pannonian region of Lower Austria 's western border. The Ruthenian globe thistle grows here on sunny rocky slopes and rocky steppes of hill height level. In the other areas of Central Europe, the wild type occasionally.