Eryngium

Abstract

Herbs [shrubs] annual, biennial, or perennial, aromatic or not, caulescent [acaulous or shortcaulescent], 5–200[–300] cm, glabrous (E. aristulatum and E. armatum with leaves, bracts, or bractlets sometimes sparsely puberulent, E. constancei densely puberulent throughout, E. pinnatisectum with inflorescences sometimes hispidulous, none stellate-hairy); taprooted, fibrous-rooted, or with rhizomes bearing usually fibrous roots. Leaves simple, pinnately or palmately lobed or unlobed; blade linear, linear-triangular, ovate, oblong, elliptic, rhombic, obtriangular, obovate, or suborbiculate-reniform [orbiculate], coriaceous, fleshy, or herbaceous; lobes, if present, undivided or palmately or pinnately dissected, linear, triangular, ovate, elliptic, oblong, obovate, or obtrullate, margins entire, crenate, dentate, or serrate, often spinose; sometimes parallel-veined.