Appearance
It is a perennial plant that grows between 25 and 100 cm. It prefers grassy places and dry soils, avoiding heavy soils, and flowers between July and September. The flowered head is flatter than similar species Devils bit scabious and Small Scabious. There are 4 stamens in each flower, and 1 notched long stigma.The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, 5–6 mm in size. It has a tap root. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. There are no stipules.
The leaves form a basal rosette, are paired on the stem, the lowest typically 300 mm long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller.
Naming
Species of scabious were used to treat Scabies, and may other afflictions of the skin including sores caused by the Bubonic Plague1. The word scabies comes from the Latin word for "scratch" . Another name for this plant is Gipsy Rose3.The genus Knautia is named after a 17th century German botanist, Dr Knaut.
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