Description
The biological form of Eryngium alpinum is hemicryptophyte scapose, as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves. The roots are deep and robust.
The stems are solitary and erect, usually with three branches on the apex and with longitudinal purple stripes in the central part. This plant reaches on average 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) in height, with a maximum of 100 centimetres (39 in). The basal leaves are oval or approximately heart-shaped, 10–15 centimetres (3.9–5.9 in) wide and 13–17 centimetres (5.1–6.7 in) long, with toothed hedges and a long petiole. The cauline leaves are sessile and progressively more and more deeply divided.
The inflorescences are located at the top of the main branches and produced in dense umbels 4 cm long and 2 cm diameter. They are bright green at the base and blue amethystine (almost cobalt) in the upper part (the basal bracts). These bracts are stiff, bipinnatifid, with bristly, almost spiny or frayed lobes. They vary from 12 to 18 and are up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long.
The flowers are very small (2 mm), the peripheral flowers are unisexual (or sterile), while the internal (or central) flowers are hermaphroditic. Both have five petals (pentamerous) and are actinomorphic. Flowering period extends from July through September. Pollination is granted by insects of various species. The fruit is an ovoidal achene densely spiny, about 4 to 6 mm in diameter.
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