Kingdom Plantae Family Asteraceae Genus Centaurea Higher classification Knapweeds | Order Asterales Tribe Cynareae Scientific name Centaurea scabiosa Rank Species | |
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Similar Knapweeds, Centaurea jacea, Scabious, Centaurea montana, Knautia arvensis |
Centaurea scabiosa v ddklint fredriksflora flora flowers herbarium
Centaurea scabiosa or Greater Knapweed is a perennial plant of the genus Centaurea. It is native to Europe and bears purple flower heads.
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![Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa NatureSpot](https://alchetron.com/cdn/centaurea-scabiosa-3fc2538e-b752-4bdd-b16c-9f5f07ba12d-resize-750.jpeg)
Greater knapweed is found growing in dry grasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil. Upright branched stems terminate in single thistle-like flowerheads, each having an outer ring of extended, purple-pink 'ragged' bracts which form a crown around the central flowers. The plant has deeply dissected leaves which form a clump at the base.
This species is very valuable to bees. It is also a magnet for many species of butterfly. Among them is the Marbled White.
![Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa Urban Butterfly Garden](https://alchetron.com/cdn/centaurea-scabiosa-361856f8-ec46-466e-9805-14bb88fbb81-resize-750.jpeg)
This is the only known foodplant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth Coleophora didymella. Centaurea scabiosa has been used in traditional herbal healing as either a vulnerary or an emollient.
![Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa Flowers NatureGate](https://alchetron.com/cdn/centaurea-scabiosa-329c3521-5cfb-48c6-8575-78fc159724a-resize-750.jpeg)
The plant is sometimes confused with Devils-bit Scabious, however the leaves on this plant are arranged alternately, whereas in Devils-bit they are opposite.
![Centaurea scabiosa Centaurea scabiosa greater knapweed Go Botany](https://alchetron.com/cdn/centaurea-scabiosa-214b5ed5-efe5-4ef1-873e-0f1e2558556-resize-750.jpeg)
Centaurea scabiosa v ddklint fredriksflora flora flowers herbarium
![Centaurea scabiosa httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu](https://alchetron.com/cdn/centaurea-scabiosa-40c475ce-e093-4419-8888-4f479ae4d1a-resize-750.jpg)