{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{About|the plant genus|the mammal genus|Lesser hedgehog tenrec}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Echinops adenocaulos.jpg | image_caption = ''[[Echinops adenocaulos]]'' | display_parents = 3 | parent_authority = Dumort. | taxon = Echinops | authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = About 130 species, see text }}
'''''Echinops''''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛ|k|ᵻ|n|ɒ|p|s}}<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> is a [[genus]] of about 130 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Asteraceae]], commonly known as '''globe [[thistle]]s'''. They have spiny foliage and produce blue or white spherical flower heads. They are distributed from central Asia, Mongolia and north-eastern China to the Mediterranean basin, temperate regions of Eurasia, reaching to Indian subcontinent and tropical Africa.<ref name=RHSAZ>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first1=Somayeh |last1=Montazerolghaem |first2=Alfonso |last2=Susanna |first3=Juan Antonio |last3=Calleja |first4=Valiollah |last4=Mozaffarian |first5=Mohammad Reza |last5=Rahiminejad |date=2017 |title=Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the genus Echinops (Compositae, Cardueae–Echinopsinae): Focus on the Iranian centre of diversification |journal=Phytotaxa |volume=297 |issue=2 |page=101 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314088368 |doi=10.11646/phytotaxa.297.2.1}}</ref> Globe thistles are a common host plant for [[weevil|weevils]] of the genus [[Larinus|''Larinus.'']]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Skuhrovec |first1=Jiří |last2=Volovnik |first2=Semyon |last3=Gosik |first3=Rafał |date=2017-06-12 |title=Description of the immature stages of Larinus vulpes and notes on its biology (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae) |url=https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/12560/ |journal=ZooKeys |language=en |issue=679 |pages=107–137 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.679.12560 |doi-access=free |pmid=28769711 |pmc=5523399 |bibcode=2017ZooK..679..107S |issn=1313-2970}}</ref>
== Characteristics == [[File:Illustration Echinops sphaerocephalus0.jpg|thumb|Illustration of globe thistle ''[[Echinops sphaerocephalus]]'']] Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Echinops in Flora of North America @ efloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=111246 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.efloras.org}}</ref>
=== Vegetative characteristics === The globe thistle species are perennial [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous plants]]. They form [[Rhizome|rhizomes]] as perennial organs. The independently upright stems are angular. The alternately arranged leaves are one to two-pinnately divided and white, woolly and tomentose on the underside.
=== Generative features === [[File:Echinops ritro 01.jpg|thumb|''Echinops ritro'' ]] The capitulas are single-flowered, have a hermaphrodite tubular flower and are surrounded by a multi-rowed sheath. Numerous capitulas form spherical [[Inflorescence|inflorescences]] of the second order, which have a diameter of 4 to 8 centimeters. The capitulas bloom from top to bottom within a head. The corolla is tubular, divided almost to the base. The flower color is steel blue to white, the inflorescences as a whole are usually bluish. The [[Stamen|stamens]] are blue-gray. The [[Achene|achenes]] are cylindrical, pentagonal and hairy. The [[Pappus (botany)|pappus]] has short scales.
== Human uses == Many species belonging to the genus ''Echinops'' are traditionally used as medicinal herbs in Africa, Asia and Europe. More than 151 [[Natural product|natural products]] have been reported from this genus, many of which contain an unusual [[alkyne]]- and [[thiophene]]-containing structure. Various extracts, essential oils, and isolated compounds from members of this genus have been shown to have [[Antimicrobial|anti-microbial]], [[cytotoxic]], and [[anti-inflammatory]] effects ''[[in vitro]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bitew |first1=Helen |last2=Hymete |first2=Ariaya |date=2019-11-01 |title=The Genus Echinops: Phytochemistry and Biological Activities: A Review |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |volume=10 |pages=1234 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2019.01234 |doi-access=free |issn=1663-9812 |pmc=6838032 |pmid=31736749}}</ref> [[File:Echinoynethiophene A.svg|thumb|Echinoynethiophene A is one such compound isolated from [[Echinops grijsii]]]]However, there are a number of species in this genus that are claimed to have traditional medicinal uses but their chemical composition has not yet been evaluated.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bitew |first1=Helen |last2=Hymete |first2=Ariaya |date=2019-11-01 |title=The Genus Echinops: Phytochemistry and Biological Activities: A Review |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |volume=10 |pages=1234 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2019.01234 |doi-access=free |issn=1663-9812 |pmc=6838032 |pmid=31736749}}</ref>
''Echinops'' plants have been traditionally employed in [[Traditional medicine|folk medicine]] to treat inflammation, pain, fever, cough, and sore throat; as an aphrodisiac; to facilitate expulsion of a retained placenta postpartum; as an abortifacient; and in the management of uterine tumors and leucorrhoea.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ghasemi |first1=Pirbalouti A. |last2=Momeni |first2=M. |last3=Bahmani |first3=M. |date=2013 |title=Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Kurd tribe in Dehloran and Abdanan districts, Ilam province, Iran |url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/84623 |journal= African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines|volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=368–385 |access-date=2024-07-21 |doi=10.4314/ajtcam.v10i2.24 |pmid=24146463 |pmc=3746586 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Okello |first1=Jimmy |last2=Ssegawa |first2=Paul |date=2007 |title=Medicinal plants used by communities of Ngai Subcounty, Apac District, northern Uganda |journal=African Journal of Ecology |volume=45 |pages=76–83 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227734520 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00742.x|bibcode=2007AfJEc..45S..76O }}</ref>
==Selected species== Species include:
* ''[[Echinops adenocaulos]]'' * ''[[Echinops amplexicaulis]]'' * ''[[Echinops bannaticus]]'' * ''[[Echinops cephalotes]]'' * ''[[Echinops ceratophorus]]'' * ''[[Echinops chantavicus]]'' * ''[[Echinops echinatus]]'' * ''[[Echinops exaltatus]]'' * ''[[Echinops giganteus]]'' * ''[[Echinops gmelinii]]'' * ''[[Echinops graecus]]'' * ''[[Echinops humilis]]'' * ''[[Echinops kotschyi]]'' * ''[[Echinops latifolius]]'' * ''[[Echinops longisetus]]'' * ''[[Echinops macrophyllus]]'' * ''[[Echinops nivens]]'' * ''[[Echinops niveus]]'' * ''[[Echinops orientalis]]'' *''[[Echinops persepolitanus]]'' *''[[Echinops polyceras]]'' * ''[[Echinops ritro]]'' (syn. ''Echinops ruthenicus'') * ''[[Echinops sahyadricus]]'' * ''[[Echinops setifer]]'' * ''[[Echinops sphaerocephalus]]'' * ''[[Echinops spinosissimus]]'' * ''[[Echinops tournefortii]]'' * ''[[Echinops tschimganicus]]'' * ''[[Echinops kazerunensis]]''
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Echinops setifer ja 01.jpg|''[[Echinops setifer]]'' in [[Japan]] File:Echinops adenocaulos 03.jpg|alt=Echinops adenocaulos in a black background|''[[Echinops adenocaulos]]'' in [[north Africa]] File:Echinops adenocaulos 01.jpg|''Echinops adenocaulos'' before flowering File:Echinops sphaerocephalus 01.jpg|''[[Echinops sphaerocephalus]]'' in [[Sétif|Setif]], [[Algeria]] File:HPIM8079.JPG|''Echinops ruthenicus'' File:Echinops spinosissimus (KPFC) 04.jpg|''Echinops spinoissimus'' in [[Greece]] File:Ttye7628629.jpg|''Echinops macrophyllus'' in [[Iran]] File:Gh747.jpg|''Echinops macrophyllus'' File:Echinops sphaerocephalus (habitus).jpg|''Echinops sphaerocephalus'' in Russia </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q650106}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Echinops| ]] [[Category:Asteraceae genera]] [[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]] {{Cynareae-stub}}