Knautia arvensis
Caprifoliaceae
June to October
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Field Scabious
It igrows in chalk and limestone grassland, in rough
pasture, open hedgerows and the edges of woods,
and by roads, paths and railways.
It is sometimes planted in the wild flower sections
of churchyards.
Field Scabious is a native, perennial herb, growing
up to 1m.
Flowerheads are attractive, lilac, flattish and up to
3 cm across.
Indivdual florets have 4 joined petals.
The marginal florets have lobed and larger petals
than than the central ones.
Flowers are protandrous (stamens before styles).
There are 2-4 stamens per floret with pink or blue
anthers.
Styles are white and slender with simple or 2-lobed
stigmas.
The older florets show the remains of the stamens
(picture 7).
Stems are robust.
Leaves are lanceolate and variously lobed.
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Field Scabious - churchyard, Dorset
First flowerheads - protandrous
Stamens - 2-4 per floret
Later flowerhead with styles and stigmas
Bilobed stigmas
Outer and inner 4 petalled florets -anthers
4-petalled inner florets -stigmas
Sepals on opening flowerhead
Lower leaf
Upper leaf
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