Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus

Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus is a subspecies of Echinops ritro in the family Asteraceae.

Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Echinops
Species:	E. ritro
Subspecies:	E. r. subsp. ruthenicus
Trinomial name
Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus (M.Bieb.) Nyman

Description

It is a perennial plant up to 1 metre tall with thistle-like leaves.^[1][2][3] The stems are greyish-white, the leaves green above and pale grey-green to white below; the flowers are blue-violet, produced in a dense capitulum 3–4.5 cm diameter.^[2][3]

Distribution

It is native to Central Europe, Baltic states, European Russia and Xinjiang. It is introduced into Germany, New York and Washington.^[1]

Medical properties

This species may have been used in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory properties.^{[citation needed]} This plant is not toxic to humans and pets.^{[citation needed]}