A moderately tall Eryngo (50 cm or more) with a small number of upright stems. Its base leaves are grassy looking, and when examined each leaf dissects into 5-7 long, grassy lobes (2-3 mm wide); the stem leaves are similar (5-divided) but less prominent, their bases sheathing the stem. The stems mature bluish-grey with a narrow display of a small number of heads, appearing August. At the base of each flower head is a whorl of 5-6 slender spine-leaves that are larger than the heads, and within a head each small flower is attended by a smallish spine, mostly simple but the outer ones may be 3-parted. It naturally grows in pine forests at high altitude (1500 m). Photos.
It is distinguished in Turkey from other Eryngium with grassy leaves by the higher number (5-7) of long grassy lobes on the base leaves, in Eryngium trisectum they are divided into 3-4(5),[3] whilst Eryngium wanaturi leaves are undivided (to 1 cm wide). Beyond Turkey its allies are Eryngium ternatum (Crete; basal leaves dividing into 1-3 long lobes, floral bracteoles all 3-parted) and Eryngium serbicum (NW. Balkan Peninsula & Albania; basal leaves dividing into 4-5, whorled bracts 7-8).[4][5]
