Genus Echinops L.
Fam: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Genus: Echinops L.
English Name: Globe thistles
Description:
Thorny perennial. Large baskets, cumulus, without a common envelope. Different blossoms covered with own covering, consisting of tiles-shaped leaves; external wrapper leaves, converted into thin bristles (penicilliums). The corolla blue or white. Anthers at the base ciliates. The shares of the bar line, spread; fruits cylindrical, covered with cloth lies close, and at its top provided with a crown of fused with base bristles. Excellent honey plants.
1. Wrapper leaves on back glandular - pubescent .. …........................................................................................................……(1) E. sphaerocephalus L
1*. Wrapper leaves naked ............................................................................................................................................................ .................................... 2.
2. Penicilium (Wrapper leave of the basket) undeveloped and consists of a few small bristles. Under side of the leaves covered with thin web or almost naked,
but not deposited ......................................................................................................................................................................(4) E. microcephalus S. S.
2*. Penicilium (Wrapper leave of the basket) highly developed in the form of numerous bristles, 3 - 4 times shorter than the husk. Underside of the eaves white deposited ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 .
3. Bristles of the kite fused only at the base. . . .................................................................................................................................. (3) E. banaticus Roch.
3*. Bristles of the kite fused to half or more already ……….............................................................................................................................................…. 4.
4. Baskets blue .............................................. ................................................................................................................................................ (5) E. ritro L.
4* Basket Greenish .............................................. ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 .
5. Bristles of the kite fused to half. The upper side of the leaves densely pubescent. …….........................…. (1) E. sphaerocephalus L. var. albidus Boiss.
5*. Bristles of the kite fused more than half of his. The upper side of the leaves with rare short bristles, almost without glands. .... (2) E. commutatus Juratzka.
(1). E. sphaerocephalus L. (perennial plants) – Grow on the dry grassy and stony places, at all appropriate floristic regions of the country (1). VI - IX. Fig. 1449.
var. sphaerocephalus – The stem at its upper part and its shell glandular - fiber. Widespread. ..............................................................................
var. albidus (Boiss.) (E. a. Boiss. et Sprun., E. s. L. γ a. Boiss.) - stems and shells without glandular hairs. Scattered throughout the country..........
(2). E. commutatus Juratzka (E. globifer Jka.) – (perennial plants) – Grow on dry grassy and stony places in northeastern Bulgaria, the average Northern Bulgaria, Thrace, Sofia and Radomir, regions, Central and Eastern Rhodopes …….........................................................................….. (1). VI-IX.
(3). E. banaticus Roch. (perennial plants) - Grow on dry and stony places at all appropriate floristic regions of the country (1-)............................. VII - X.
(4). E. microlephalus SS (perennial plants) - In the dry and stony places and pastures. Widespread (1).................................................................. VII - X.
(5). E. ritro L. {E. r. β tenufolius Boiss.) - In the dry and stony places at all appropriate floristic regions of the country (1). VII - VIII. ................................
In Bulgaria : var. ruthenicus ( M. B.) Stoj. et Stef. (E. r. MB.) - Plant moisture without glandular hairs. Widespread. ...............................................
var. thracicus (Vel.) Stoj. et Stef. {E. t. Vel.) - The lower part of the stem and upper surface of the leaves with glandular hairs. Mostly south of the Balkan Mountains.
References: „Флора на България”, Н. Стоянов, Б. Стефанов, Б. Китанов, част II, Наука и Изкуство, София, (1967)
Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Echinops ritro L. - Small Globe thistle
Echinops sphaerocephalus L. - Great globe thistle
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