Blue globe thistle
Echinops cornigerus

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. The leaves are silver grey and divided into many segments along the stalk. The edges of the leaves have sharp spines. The leaves have white cottony hairs underneath. The flowers heads are almost round and made up of closely packed small blue flowers. There are spines between the flowers.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 2,400-4,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Tajikistan

How it is used for food

The root is used in salads.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aczema, Kandara

Synonyms

Echinops coriarius C. B. Clarke; Echinops polygraphus Czerniak.; Echinops polygraphus Tscherneva;