Leavenworth eryngo
Eryngium leavenworthii T. & G.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, stout, branched above, glabrous, purplish.
- Leaves
- Alternate; lower stem leaves short stalked, broadly oblanceolate, 1 to 2.5 inches long, to .75 inch wide; upper stem leaves sessile, broadly ovate to circular, deeply palmately divided into narrow, spiny segments.
- Inflorescence
- Heads, ovoid-oblong, 1 to 1.5 inches long, 1 inch wide, purplish, terminal; bracts, spiny, pinnately cleft, subtending heads and projecting from tops of heads.
- Flower
- Tiny, whitish to purple; petals 5; stamens 5, bluish.
- Fruit
- Dry, oblong, covered with whitish scales.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Dry, rocky prairies, roadsides, open woodlands, and waste areas, most abundant on limestone or chalk soils.
- Distribution
- Principally southeast quarter of Kansas.
Additional Notes
Comments
At first glance, this plant resembles a thistle, but it is actually a member of the parsley family. Named for its discoverer, Melines Conklin Leavenworth (1796-1862), an explorer, army surgeon, and botanist.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Apiaceae - Parsley Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- 1-3 feet
- Last Updated
- 2007-09-03
Color Groups
Blue, Purple, Lavender & Violet Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: July, August, September