Devil’s-bit Scabious

Entire meadows may be coloured purple by swathes of Devil’s-bit Scabious in late summer. The flowers are generally darker than other scabious species, and form a rounded rather than flat-topped head. Each tubular floret of Devil’s-bit Scabious is the same in shape and size, without larger petals on the outside. When in bud, the flowerhead is like a collection of green or purple beads but later, when the flowers open and the stamens protrude, it comes to resemble a pincushion.

LEAVES : Basal leaves, lance-shaped with prominent white midrib; stem leaves opposite and toothed.

PLANT HEIGHT : 50–100cm.

FLOWER SIZE : Flowerhead 1.5–2cm wide.

FRUIT : One-seeded achene.

FLOWERING TIME : July–October.

SIMILAR SPECIES : Sheep’s-bit , which does not have protruding stamens; Round-headed Rampion , which has curved florets.