Echinops viscosus, Echinops spinosissimus, Echinops spinosus,
Echinops creticus, Viscous globe-thistle, קיפודן סורי, קיפודן דביק

Scientific name:		Echinops viscosus DC.
Synonym name:		Echinops spinosissimus Turra, Echinops spinosus Sm. In Sibth. & Sm., Echinops creticus Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss.
Common name:		Viscous globe-thistle
Hebrew name:		קיפודן סורי, קיפודן דביק
Family:		Compositae / Asteraceae, מורכבים

Life form:		Perennial
Spinescence:		Leaves, bracts
Stems:		Up to 80 cm; stem white or purplish, with or without lanate seta; erect, sturdy, ridged
Leaves:		Alternate, oblong-lanceolate to oblong in outline, 2-3-pinnatisect.
Flowers:		Hermaphrodite; several heads on each stem, up to 10 cm diameter; corolla white, blue, or purple; anthers bluish gray
Fruits / pods:		Achene covered with long straight appressed hairs. Pappus scales distinct to connate, inserted directly on apical plate.
Flowering Period:		June, July
Habitat:		Humid Habitats
Distribution:		Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:		Mediterranean
Summer shedding:		Perennating

Derivation of the botanical name: Echinops, echinos, εχινοϛ, sea-urchin, hedgehog; opsis, like; in allusion to this herb's spiny, globe-shaped flower heads of metallic blue. viscosus, sticky. spinosissimus, spiniest. The Hebrew name: קפודן, קיפודן, kipodan, "a hedgehog", for the flowers are arranged in a spherical inflorescence similar to a hedgehog (kipodan). The standard author abbreviation DC. is used to indicate Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778 – 1841), a Swiss botanist. The standard author abbreviation Turra is used to indicate Antonio Turra (1730 - 1796), an Italian botanist. The standard author abbreviation Sm. is used to indicate James Edward Smith (1759 – 1828), an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society. The standard author abbreviation Sibth. & Sm is used to indicate John Sibthorp (1758 – 1796), an English botanist. The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician. The standard author abbreviation Heldr. is used to indicate Theodor Heinrich Hermann von Heldreich (1822 – 1902), a German botanist. Echinops viscosus (Animal Pollination); the flowerheads of the Echinops viscosus are close together at the top of the flower stalk. Echinops viscosus are common on basaltic soils. Basaltic soils, representing soils which have a heavy texture, a low soil profile and the soil tends to dry out quickly because it is low in organic matter. Basaltic soils are alkaline and the soil layer is usually very shallow. Common in the Hula Valley, Mt. Hermon and the Golan heights. Some suggest the Echinops viscosus as Hoah, חוח = briar, thistle; thorn in the Bible (Job 31:40; Proverbs 26:9; Hosea 9:6), others prefer the Kotz, קוץ = thorn, thistle (Isaiah 32:13; Hosea 10:8). According to Michael Zohary, Echinops viscosus is recommended to be a Barkan, ברקן = briar, thorn. In the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, and Targum the Echinops viscosus (היזמא), is mentioned as indigenous to Palestine and Babylon. Bible resources: Genesis 3:18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,and you will eat the plants of the field. Judges 8:7 Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.” Judges 8:16 He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers. Hosea 10:8 The high places of wickedness[a] will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”