Field Scabious
ExplorePlants
Field Scabious
knautia arvensis
Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) is a delightful perennial wild plant that graces grasslands, meadows, and roadsides across Europe and temperate Asia. Belonging to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, this hardy herb is well-loved for its dome-shaped, pastel lavender-blue flower heads that dance atop slender, hairy stems. Historically, it held a place in folk medicine, most notably as a treatment for scabies—a connection preserved in both its common name 'Scabious' and its genus name Knautia, which honors German botanist Christian Knaut. Beyond its historical uses, Field Scabious is an ecological powerhouse, attracting a massive variety of pollinating insects by providing abundant nectar over a long blooming season from mid-summer into autumn. This makes it a crucial species for biodiversity conservation in meadow restoration projects.
Habitat: Found in dry, open grasslands, meadows, pastures, and along sunny roadsides, particularly preferring chalky, well-drained, and nutrient-poor soils.
Appearance
Field Scabious is characterized by its pin-cushion-like flower heads, which measure 3 to 4 centimeters across and feature pale violet, lavender, or light blue blossoms with prominent, protruding pinkish-white anthers. Its upright, stiff stems are rough and covered in downward-pointing bristles. The plant features highly variable foliage: the basal leaves form a dense rosette and are lance-shaped, while the stem leaves are deeply pinnately-lobed, giving the plant an airy appearance against surrounding grasses.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderDipsacalesFamilyCaprifoliaceaeGenusKnautia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each flower head is actually a composite cluster of up to 50 individual small flowers, with the outer ones growing larger to act as a landing pad for insects.
Folk legend suggests that the devil tried to bite off the root of the plant because he hated its healing properties, leading to another common name for the family: Devil's-bit.
The common name 'Scabious' comes from the Latin word 'scabies', meaning itch, because the plant was historically used to treat skin conditions.
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Resilience
Features a deep, sturdy taproot that allows it to access water deep within dry, chalky soils during hot summer months.
Ability
Pollinator Magnetism
Produces massive amounts of nectar and staggered flower openings, ensuring a reliable food source that attracts dozens of insect species.
Ability
Variable Foliage
Exhibits heterophylly, producing broad basal leaves to shade out competitors in spring, and deeply lobed stem leaves later to minimize water loss.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 30-100 cm
- Lifespan
- 2-10 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photoautotrophic plant, Field Scabious produces its own sugars through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon Dioxide
- Soil Nutrients
Ecological connections
mutualism
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Provides abundant nectar and pollen to foraging worker bees.
mutualism
Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
Adult butterflies frequently visit the nectar-rich flowers for sustenance.
host plant
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
Hemaris tityus
Acts as a primary larval host plant for the caterpillars of this rare moth.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Field Scabious?
The easiest way to identify Field Scabious is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Field Scabious?
30-100 cm
How long does Field Scabious live?
2-10 years
What does Field Scabious eat?
As a photoautotrophic plant, Field Scabious produces its own sugars through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Where is Field Scabious usually found?
Found in dry, open grasslands, meadows, pastures, and along sunny roadsides, particularly preferring chalky, well-drained, and nutrient-poor soils.
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