Echinops spinosissimus

Echinops spinosissimus is a European species of plant in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. It is native to southeastern Europe (Sicily, Apulia, Greece, Albania, and the western Balkans), northern Africa, and southwest Asia as far east as Iran.

Echinops spinosissimus is a branching perennial herb up to 80 cm (2 feet) tall. Leaves are divided into narrow triangular lobes, each with a slender but hard spine at the tip. The plant produces nearly spherical flower heads containing many white or pale lavender disc florets but no ray florets.


 * Subspecies
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. bithynicus (Boiss.) Greuter
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. bovei (Boiss.) Greuter
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. fontqueri (Pau) Greuter
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. macrolepis (Boiss.) Greuter
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. neumayeri (Vis.) Kožuharov
 * Echinops spinosissimus subsp. spinosissimus