ERYN'GIUM GIGANTE'UM. 
Class. 
pentandrta 
GJANT ERYNGO. 
Natural Order. 
API ACE jE. 
Order. 
digynia. 
Native of 
Caucasus. 
Height. 
3 feet. 
Flowers in 
July, Aug. 
Duration. 
Perennial. 
Introduced 
in 1820. 
No. 1172. 
The name Eryngium was adopted by the Greeks, 
long before the Christian era, and the written descrip- 
tion of the plant being sufficiently definite to ena- 
ble Linneus to identify it, he, of course, gladly con- 
tinued the name to the plant, originally so "called 
by the ancients. 
This is a family of rather singular thistly-looking 
subjects, whose beauty principally exists in their 
involucre or leaves surrounding the head of flowers. 
These, in some of the species, are of so bright and 
peculiar a purplish blue tint, as always to excite 
admiration. Planted near the fronts of shrubbery 
borders, or on mounds of herbaceous plants, they 
have a pleasing effect; their height will, of course, 
direct the cultivator in the choice of situation for 
their growth. 
Candied Eryngo, made of the roots of the Erin- 
gium maritimum, or Sea Holly, a sea-coast plant, 
although now less used than formerly, is not for- 
gotten, and is still prepared by confectioners. Ger- 
ald says It is exceedingly good to be given unto 
old and aged people that are consumed and with- 
ered with age.” 
