Revision of Eryngium L. (Apiaceae-Saniculoideae)

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This extensively illustrated monograph revises the Eurasian and African species of the genus Eryngium, which includes 230 species within the Apiaceae family. It explores various characteristics of Eryngium, including morphological, chemotaxonomic, and genetic traits, along with chromosome counts, ecological properties, distribution, fossil records, and reproductive biology. Each species is examined in relation to its habitat, where biological and non-biological parameters shape its evolutionary challenges. The work is divided into two parts: the general section presents Eryngium's morphology and cladistic analysis, integrating morphological, fruit anatomical, and ecological data with genetic findings. This analysis validates the classification of Eryngium into five subgenera (Eryngium, Monocotyloidea, Semiaquatica, Foetida, and Lessonia) and introduces a new subgenus, E. subg. Ilicifolia. The special section details 61 Eurasian and North African species, offering descriptions, distribution maps, illustrations, and identification keys. Extensive herbarium studies underpin this research, while phytosociological data provide insights into ecological needs. The volume concludes with a comprehensive list of over 600 references and includes valid and illegal names.