Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Echinops corniger DC.
Common name : Blue Globe Thistle
Vernacular name : Kandara, Kantela (Hindi); Aczema (Ladakhi)
Habit : Herb
Habitat : Grazing grounds and stony slopes
Comments / notes : Common in Ladakh
Key identification features : An erect, spinescent, perennial herb. Stem very leafy, 30-60 cm long Leaves 10-20 cm, lanceolate with spiny toothed lobes. Spherical inflorescence of numerous densely packed pale blue flower-heads. Achenes villous, obconic.
Flower, Fruit : July-September
Distribution :
Uttarakhand : Uttarakhand
Native : Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya
Exotic/Native : Native
World Distribution : Afghanistan to Central Asia and Nepal
Literature : Uniyal B.P., Sharma J.R., Choudhery U., Singh D.K. (2007). Flowering Plants of Uttarakhand: A Checklist. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh: 155; Chaurasia O P, Khatoon N and Singh S B (2006), Field Guide-Plant Biodiversity of Ladakh. WWF-India, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) and Department of Wildlife Protection, Goverment of Jammu and Kashmir