Eryngium campestre L.

Pale green, branched, erect perennial, with a stout taproot. Stems solid, slightly grooved, striate, up to 70 cm high. Basal lvs ovate, petiolate, pinnatisect with lobes again pinnately cut, spinose-serrate, 5–20 cm long; stem lvs similar to basal but reduced and amplexicaul. Infl. much-branched; capitula many, ovoid, pedunculate, pale green to brown, 8–15 mm diam.; bracts 4–7, linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, spinous, 15–30 mm long, entire, or with 1–(2) pairs of marginal spines; bracteoles entire, spinous. Fls numerous, white or purplish, 1–2 mm diam.; calyx teeth lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Fr. densely scaly, the scales overlapping.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Apr.