ORD. v.] 31. ECHTNOPS SPH^.ROCEPHALUS. 431 



Order V. 

 Cynarc^. (Polygamia segregata.) 



SI. 



Echinops sphaeroceplialus, L. 



Kugeldistel. — French, Echhiope, Boidette. — Engl. Globe- 

 thistle. — S wed. Bol-tidel, 



This plant is frequently observed in hedges and bushes, 

 by the way side, and in rocky places. From a w(X)dy tap- 

 root, the stem rises to the height of two ells, frequently 

 to the height of a man. It is of the thickness of the finger, 

 angular, completely covered with wool, and with a glutinous 

 moisture, which may also be observed on the leaves. The 

 leaves are alternate, short-stalked, the upper ones with- 

 out stalks, a large span in length, frequently still longer, 

 deeply semi-pinnate, having their upper surface green and 

 hairy, their lower entirely white, covered with a woolly to- 

 mentum : the laciniae of the leaves are angular, and termi- 

 nate in thorns. The upper part of the stem is divided into 

 several branches, on the tips of which grow the compound 

 flowers, resembling bluish spheres of the size of a middling- 

 sized apple. The spherical receptacle is properly naked, 

 (Meese Het. xix. class, t. 3. f 5.), and a calyx for each floret 

 is formed of chafly leaves, which are stiff* and hairy. At the 

 base of these calyces bristles appear, which are attached to 

 them, and upon superficial observation seem to belong to tlie 

 receptacle. The florets are all similar, tubular, with a quinque- 

 partite margin, and of a whitish-blue colour. The cylinder 

 of the antheraj is violet coloured : the stigma is divided. The 

 aestivation is valvular, and the florets expand from the centre 

 of the sphere towards the circumference. The roughly cilia- 

 ted seed (a caryopse), is surmounted bv a membrane : {Bcrl- 

 hey, E.vpos. FL Camp. t. 3. f 18.) 



