''Acanthus balcanicus'', is an
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
herbaceous perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
in the genus ''
Acanthus'', native to the
Balkan peninsula, up to
Dalmatia. This plant is also cultivated in many European and American gardens.
It grows to 80 cm tall, with basal clusters of deeply lobed and cut leaves. Leaves are dark green and shiny. It flowers in mid summer from July to August. Flowers are on a very long flowering stem and consist of a lower lip and upper tooth-like lip.
Image:Acanthus balcanicus.jpg, Inflorescence bud
Image:Acanthus balcanicus0.jpg, Opening inflorescence
Image:Acanthus balcanicus03.jpg, Inflorescence
Image:Acanthus balcanicus close-up3.jpg, Flower close-up
Image:Acanthus balcanicus leaf.jpg, Leaf
References
External links
Jardin! L’Encyclopedie
balcanicus
{{Acanthaceae-stub