Echinops spinosissimus
Turra
Globe thistle
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) fotis-samaritakis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) fotis-samaritakis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) fotis-samaritakis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaEchinops spinosissimus, the spiny globe thistle, is a European species of plant in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. It is native to southeastern Europe (Sicily, Apulia, Greece, Albania, and the western Balkans), northern Africa, and southwest Asia as far east as Iran. Echinops spinosissimus is a branching perennial herb up to 80 cm (2 feet) tall. Leaves are divided into narrow triangular lobes, each with a slender but hard spine at the tip. The plant produces nearly spherical flower heads containing many white or pale lavender disc florets but no ray florets. Subspecies Echinops spinosissimus subsp. bithynicus (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. bovei (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. fontqueri (Pau) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. macrolepis (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. neumayeri (Vis.) Kožuharov Echinops spinosissimus subsp. spinosissimus
Description
Echinops spinosissimus is a 0.8 m tall perennial with a bushy growth habit. Flowers appear June to August. This insect-pollinated hermaphrodite plant requires full sun and grows in light, medium, or heavy soils with good drainage. It tolerates poor soil nutrition and adapts to acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH. The plant thrives in both dry and moist conditions and handles drought well. Hardy to UK zone 7.
Edible Uses
This plant yields a gum that can be used for chewing.
Traditional Uses
The young stems are eaten raw, boiled or fried. They are often cooked with meat. The roots and heads are also edible.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
No medicinal uses are known for this plant.
Distribution
It is a Mediterranean climate plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Turkey, Türkiye,
Cultivation
Succeeds in a sunny position in any well drained soil of low or medium fertility. Established plants are drought tolerant.
Propagation
Sow seed in early spring in a cold frame; germination typically occurs in 3–9 weeks at 25°C. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant out during summer. Seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in mid spring and transplanted to its permanent position in late summer or autumn. Propagation is also possible by division in autumn or by root cuttings taken in winter.
Other Uses
The plant produces a gum. No further other uses are known.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Deve dikeni, Gihayi devva, Saratzinos, Taskra, Tesskra
References (7)
- Bidak, L. M., et al, 2015, Goods and services provided by native plants in desert ecosystems: Examples from the northwestern coastal desert of Egypt. Global Ecology and Conservation 3 (2015) 433–447 (As Echinops spinosus)
- Della, A., et al, 2006, An ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants of Paphos and Larnaca countryside of Cyprus. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2:34
- Hadjichambis, A. C., et al, 2007, Wild and semi-domesticated food plant consumption in seven circum-Mediterranean areas. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2007, 1-32.
- http://cypruswildflowers.com
- Kaya, O. M., et al, 2020, An ethnobotanical research in Sanhurfa central district and attached Villages (Turkey). Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol. 19(1) pp 7-23
Show all 7 references Hide references
- Nassif, F., & Tanji, A., 2013, Gathered food plants in Morocco: The long forgotten species in Ethnobotanical Research. Life Science Leaflets 3:17-54
- Rivera, D. et al, 2006, Gathered Mediterranean Food Plants - Ethnobotanical Investigations and Historical Development, in Heinrich M, Müller WE, Galli C (eds): Local Mediterranean Food Plants and Nutraceuticals. Forum Nutr. Basel, Karger, 2006, vol 59, pp 18–74
