Common name: sea holly, martorn
Eryngium maritimum L. APNI* 
Description: Robust perennial herb to 50 cm high.
Basal leaves ± circular to broad-ovate, to 10 cm long, to 15 cm wide, deeply 3–5-lobed and coarsely spinose-toothed, with stout petiole to 15 cm long; stem leaves smaller, ± sessile.
Inflorescence axillary, a compound dichasia, bracteate at each branching junction, the ultimate unit of the inflorescence a globose head; flower heads 13–22 mm long, 11–20 mm diam.; peduncle length variable; bracts 4–7, broad-ovate, deeply lobed and spinose-toothed, similar in size, texture and colour to the leaves. Flowers pale mauve.
Fruit 4.5–6 mm long, densely covered with acutely pointed scales and crowned by the persistent sepals.
Flowering: December–May.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on coastal sand dunes; naturalized from Taree to Budgewoi. Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC
Text by J. M. Powell & B. M. Wiecek
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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