Mediterranean Sea Holly Eryngium bourgatii (Fr. Panicaut de Bourgat) is a perennial wild plant in the Apiaceae family. It is related to carrots, parsnips, celery and parsley but is often referred to incorrectly as a 'thistle'. It is endemic to the Pyrenees and Iberian peninsula, Morocco, Lebanon and Turkey.
An unusual white one, photographed near Lac du Gaube in the Pyrenees.
It grows from about 20 centimetres up to 50 centimetres tall and is usually an intense blue. The stems are upright and robust and the stiff leaves and bracts very spiny. The flowers come in July and August. You can find it on subalpine calcareous grasslands.
Photographed above Cauterets on our walk down to the Tour de France finish line on 6 July.
Like other sea hollies, it attracts bees, moths and butterflies and bugs.
3 comments:
This is far more attractive than the Field 'Erewego' Anklebiter [E.campestre (with the emphasis on Pest)]...... love the blue.
I don't think I'd worry as much if E.campestre was attractive like this.... this is as attractive as the garden varieties!! Possibly more so with the leaf patterning.
I’m wondering if this is the same plant as the one I photographed some years ago in the Alpes de Haute Provence. It is delicately lovely!
Tim: I think some of the garden varieties have E. bourgatii as a parent.
chm: I think it could have been.
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