| Echinops echinatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Echinops |
| Species: | E. echinatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echinops echinatus | |
Echinops echinatus, the Indian globe thistle, commonly known as Usnakantaka,[1] is a species of globe thistle, found in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Indian globe thistle is an erect branched herb about 100 cm high. It has short, stout stems, branching from the base, covered with white cottony hair. Alternately arranged oblong, deeply pinnatifid leaves are 7–12 cm long. Flower heads occur in solitary white spherical balls, 3–5 cm across. Petals of the tiny white disc florets are 5 mm long. Flowers are surrounded by straight, strong, white bristles. Often misidentified with Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner,[2] it is colloquially known as Camel's thistle.[1]
- ^ a b Maurya, Santosh Kumar; Kushwaha, Ashwini Kumar; Seth, Ankit (2015). "Ethnomedicinal review of Usnakantaka (Echinops echinatus Roxb.)". Pharmacognosy Reviews. 9 (18): 149–154. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.162138. ISSN 0973-7847. PMC 4557238. PMID 26392713.
- ^ Khan, M. A.; Niazi, H. A.; Khalid, S. (2000). "Ethnobotany and taxonomic studies of Echinops echinatus Roxb. (Untkatara) from Potohar region of Pakistan". Hamdard Medicus (Pakistan). ISSN 0250-7188.