54 
alASsio and its flora 
Eryngium maritimum (Linnaeus). 
(Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae) 
Plant giaucous, forming numerous bu- 
shes on the sand from Alassio to Laigue- 
glia. Its trunk is large (1 cent.) in propor- 
tion to its length (4-6 decim.), erect; the 
root is stoloniferous and juicy. 
Leaves nearly like fans, deeply undu- 
lated, lobated, largely toothed on the edge, 
and with a sharp thorn terminating each 
indentation of the leaf. The lower leaves 
have a long stalk, the upper ones ^ are 
sessile and half clasping the stem. Edge 
of the leaves slightly folded inwards, hard, 
leathery, and white like all the nervures 
which are very marked on both sides and 
spring from the extremity of the stalk. 
From the axilla of each sessile leaf 
arises a long peduncle supporting a flower 
head, or dividing into 2-3-4 secondary pe- 
duncles with one terminal head for each. 
At the e id of the primary peduncle there 
are 2, generally 3 small leaves with 3 in- 
dentations; the 2 or 3 lateral peduncles 
and the central or terminal have a terminal 
