Eryngium (Eryngium ternatum)
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Apiales |
| Family | Umbelliferae |
| Genus | Eryngium (1) |
| Size | Height: up to 1 m (2) Width: up to 0.5 m (2) |
Classified as Rare on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species 1997 (1).
The family Umbelliferae, to which this species belongs, is so named for its characteristic umbels, umbrella-shaped flower clusters in which all the flower stalks radiate from the same point, appearing as if a single flower head (3). The flowers of this thistle-like Eryngium species are densely clustered into tight dome-shaped umbels and surrounded by a collar of spiky bracts (4). The small heads, or umbels, of this plant are a green to metallic blue colour (5).
Endemic to the Greek Island of Crete (1).
Prefers dry, sandy, well-drained soils with plenty of sunlight exposure, but can tolerate most soil types, including lime and gravel (6) (7).
This Eryngium is a deciduous perennial (2) that blossoms from July to August (5). The flowers contain both male and female reproductive organs and are pollinated by a wide variety of insects, including bees, flies and beetles (6). This plant is self-fertile, meaning that it can produce seeds through fertilisation with its own pollen, without other plants being needed (6).
The threats facing this species are unknown.
There are currently no conservation measures targeting this species.
Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. & Valentine, D.H. (1968) Flora Europaea: Rosaceae to Umbelliferae v. 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
- Bract: modified leaf at the base of a flower.
- Deciduous: a plant that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season.
- Endemic: a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
- Perennial: plants that live for at least three seasons; after an initial period they produce flowers once a year.
- Umbel: in plants, a usually umbrella-shaped flower cluster in which the individual flower stalks originate from roughly the same point.
- Walter, K.S. and Gillett, H.J. (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. IUCN (The World Conservation Union), Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
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Permaculture Information Web (April, 2006)
http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?plant=2632 -
Koanga Gardens (April, 2006)
http://www.koanga.co.nz/pages/umbelliferae.html - Heywood, V.H. (1978) Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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Four Seasons Perennials (April, 2006)
http://www.fsperennials.co.uk/catalogue/pl_eryngium.htm -
Plants for a Future: Edible, medicinal and useful plants for a healthier world (April, 2006)
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Eryngium+ternatum - Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. and Valentine, D.H. (1968) Flora Europaea: Rosaceae to Umbelliferae v. 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.