Echinops

This article is about the plant. For the mammal genus, see Lesser hedgehog tenrec.

Echinops
File:Kipodan07 ST 07.JPG
Echinops adenocaulos with a shield bug
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Cynareae
Genus:	Echinops L.
Species
About 120 species, see text

Echinops /ˈɛkᵻnɒps/ is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles. They have spiny foliage and produce blue or white spherical flower heads. They are native to Europe east to central Asia and south to the mountains of tropical Africa.

Species include:

Echinops adenocaulos       Echinops bannaticus Echinops chantavicus Echinops echinatus Echinops exaltatus Echinops giganteus Echinops gmelinii Echinops graecus Echinops humilis Echinops latifolius Echinops longisetus Echinops nivens

Echinops niveus Echinops orientalis Echinops ritro Echinops ruthenicus Echinops setifer Echinops sphaerocephalus Echinops spinosissimus Echinops tournefortii Echinops tschimganicus Echinops viscosus

• Echinops adenocaulos.jpg

  Echinops adenocaulos in Haifa, Israel

• Echinops setifer ja 01.jpg

  Echinops setifer in Japan

• HPIM8079.JPG