Centaurea scabiosa

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Centaurea scabiosa
Centaurea scabiosa.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Centaurea
Species:
C. scabiosa
Binomial name
Centaurea scabiosa
L.

Centaurea scabiosa, or greater knapweed, is a perennial plant of the genus Centaurea . It is native to Europe and bears purple flower heads.

Contents

Greater knapweed is found growing in dry grasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil. Upright branched stems terminate in single thistle-like flowerheads, each having an outer ring of extended, purple-pink "ragged" bracts which form a crown around the central flowers. The plant has deeply dissected leaves which form a clump at the base.

This species is very valuable to bees. It is also a magnet for many species of butterfly. Among them is the marbled white.

This is the only known food plant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth Coleophora didymella . Centaurea scabiosa has been used in traditional herbal healing as either a vulnerary or an emollient.

The plant is sometimes confused with devils-bit scabious, however the leaves on this plant are arranged alternately, whereas in devils-bit they are opposite. [1]

Description

This perennial herb grows with an erect grooved stem up to 90 cm high. The leaves are alternate, pinnatifid and with stalks. The flower heads are 5 cm across and on long stalks. The florets are red-purple. [2] [3]

Habitat

Dry grassland, roadsides and calcareous substrate. [3]

Distribution

Found in Great Britain and Ireland. [3]

Images

Related Research Articles

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<i>Allium vineale</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Lathraea squamaria</i> Parasitic species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae

Lathraea squamaria, the common toothwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is widely distributed in Europe and also occurs in Turkey.

<i>Anthriscus sylvestris</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Polygala vulgaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Polygala vulgaris, known as the common milkwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Polygala in the family Polygalaceae.

<i>Centaurea montana</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurea montana, the perennial cornflower, mountain cornflower, bachelor's button, montane knapweed or mountain bluet, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to Europe. It is widespread and common in the more southerly mountain ranges of Europe, but is rarer in the north. It escapes from gardens readily, and has thereby become established in the British Isles, Scandinavia and North America. This plant has become an invasive species in British Columbia, Canada. Centaurea montana grows in meadows and open woodland in the upper montane and sub-alpine zones, in basic areas. It grows to 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) tall, and flowers mainly from May to August.

<i>Knautia arvensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae

Knautia arvensis, commonly known as field scabious, is a herbaceous perennial species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae.

<i>Succisa pratensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae

Succisa pratensis, also known as devil's-bit or devil's-bit scabious, is a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. It differs from other similar species in that it has four-lobed flowers, whereas small scabious and field scabious have five lobes and hence it has been placed in a separate genus in the same family. It also grows on damper ground.

<i>Centaurea jacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurea jacea, brown knapweed or brownray knapweed, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants in the genus Centaurea native to dry meadows and open woodland throughout Europe. It grows to 10–80 centimetres (4–31 in) tall, and flowers mainly from June to September.

<i>Centaurea nigra</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Centaurea nigra is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names lesser knapweed, common knapweed and black knapweed. A local vernacular name is hardheads.

<i>Cirsium acaule</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Cirsium acaule or acaulon has the English name dwarf thistle or stemless thistle. It is widespread across much of Europe. It is often found on short, calcerous grasslands.

<i>Cirsium heterophyllum</i> Species of thistle

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<i>Cirsium dissectum</i> Species of thistle

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<i>Stellaria neglecta</i> Species of flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae

Stellaria neglecta, greater chickweed, is an annual to short-lived herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, where it grows in hedges and woodland margins on neutral to slightly acid, damp soils, and is widespread but rarely abundant. It has been introduced to North America, where it has been spreading in recent decades.

<i>Centaurea triumfettii</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurea triumfettii, the squarrose knapweed, is a species of plant belonging to the genus Centaurea of the family Asteraceae.

<i>Streptopus lanceolatus</i> Species of flowering plant

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Centaurea macrocephala is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and a member of the thistle tribe, Cardueae (Cynareae). It has many common names, including bighead knapweed, big yellow centaurea, lemon fluff, yellow bachelor's button, yellow hardhat, and Armenian basketflower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadow knapweed</span> Species of flowering plant

Meadow knapweed is a fertile hybrid between black knapweed and brown knapweed. It is also known by the common names of hybrid knapweed or protean knapweed. The taxonomic status of the species is uncertain, and meadow knapweed has been variously described as different species. The Flora of North America refers to meadow knapweed as the nothospecies Centaurea × moncktonii.

References

  1. Rose, Francis (1981). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 385–387. ISBN   0-7232-2419-6.
  2. Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora Cork University Press. ISBN   978-185918-4783
  3. 1 2 3 Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968 Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press ISBN   0-521-04656-4