Echinops
Echinops (play /ˈɛkɨnɒps/) is a genus of about 120 species (the Echinops bannaticus is one of them) of thistles in the daisy family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles.
They are native to Europe east to central Asia and south to the mountains of tropical Africa.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinops - 10.12.2011
