Knautia arvensis

Taxobox
name = " Knautia arvensis"

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Dipsacales
familia = Dipsacaceae
genus = "Knautia"
species = "K. arvensis"
binomial = "Knautia arvensis"
binomial_authority = (L.) Coult.

"Knautia arvensis", commonly known as Field Scabious, is a species in the genus "Knautia".

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, 5-6mm 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 300mm long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller.

It is occasionally used by the Marsh Fritillary as a foodplant instead of its usual foodplant of Devils Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis). It is also the foodplant of the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus.

Name

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" (scabere). Another name for this plant is Gipsy Rose³.The genus Knautia comes from the 17th century German botonist, Dr Knaut.

References

# Kingfisher Field Guides - Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe
# Usborne Spotter's Handbook of Birds, Trees, Wildflowers
# The I-Spy Guide to Wild flowers by Michelin