25- Elegante - Eryngium elegans Cham. & Schltdl. (APIACEAE)

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Erect herbs, with a height of around 30 cm, from the center grow a long scape with inflorescences up to 1.40 m with an aspect similar to that of a bromeliad, arranged in rosette. Plant with characteristic black rhizome. Erect basal leaves, 8.5 to 20 x 0.7 to 2 cm, usually oval or lanceolate, dilated at the base, and saw-shaped margin. Inflorescence in the form of a globose chapter, from 0.5 to 0.8 cm, whose axis is cylindrical, striated, from 0.6 to 1 m high, rigid, erect; surrounded by some pointed bracts. Greenish-white flowers, arranged in small rounded groups. It forms a small fruit, around 2 mm, oval in shape. Flowering from December to March.

 

Distribution: In Brazil, it occurs in the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, with a clear preference for swampy places, poor soils, river banks, sometimes in forests and savannahs.

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Situation in São Paulo: Occasionally found in vacant lots, roadsides and highways. It is difficult to say whether it is rare in the city: it has USP, Parque Burle Marx and around Pirituba.

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How to plant:

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Uses: Ornamental potential forming an interesting lining with a beautiful effect when in bloom. The flower stems can be dried and used as decoration.

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ELIZALDE, JHI; LALLANA, VH REVISIÓN ON BIOECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ESPECIES DEL GÉNERO ERYNGIUM (APIACEAE). REV. FACULTAD DE AGRONOMÍA, UBA, V. 20, N. 2, P. 269-279, 2000.

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WANDERLEY, MARIA DAS GRAÇAS LAPA ET AL. FANEROGAMIC FLORA OF THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO. RIMA, VOL 4, 2005.