Eryngium ghiesbreghtii Decne.

Eryngium ghiesbreghtii Decaisne, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 20:
21. 1873. Slender, caulescent, glabrous perennials (?), 3-8 dm. high, from a fascicle of woodyfibrous roots, the stems erect, branching above; basal leaves triangular-cordate, 3.5-8 cm. long, 2.5-6 cm. broad, deeply caudate at the base, acute at the apex, finely spinulose-serrate, the venation palmately reticulate; petioles narrowly long-sheathing at the base, 5-15 cm. long, longer than the blades; lower cauline leaves like the basal, the upper greatly reduced, sessile, opposite; inflorescence successively trifurcate, the heads small, numerous, pedunculate, the flowers numerous; heads globose, 3-5 mm. in diameter; bracts 6-8, chartaceous, ultimately reflexed, oblong-lanceolate, 6-15 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, acute, mucronate, entire, green beneath, whitish within, greatly exceeding the heads; bractlets linear-subulate, 3-5 mm. long, entire, exceeding the fruit; coma wanting; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm. long, acute or obtuse, mucronate, entire; petals oblanceolate, about 1 mm. long; styles slender, greatly exceeding the sepals; fruit globose, 1-2 mm. long, densely covered with short, appressed, acute, tawny scales.
Type locality: "Propre Hinchilique et Cuidad-Real." Chiapas, Bourgeau. Distribution: Morelos to Chiapas {Matuda 1615, Pringle 6386).