A plant, also known as sea holly, with spiky blue flowers and an edible root that was historically candied as a sweetmeat.
From Spanish erizo (hedgehog) via Italian eringio. Named for the spiky appearance, especially the root which resembles a hedgehog curled up.
This plant's root used to be turned into candy in the Middle Ages—imagine chewing on a candied plant root because people thought it was delicious!
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