Jump to content

Knautia arvensis: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Added a photo to gallery
 
(3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae}}
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Multiple issues|
{{Page numbers needed|date=September 2010}}
{{Page numbers needed|date=September 2010}}
{{No footnotes|date=April 2009}}
{{No footnotes|date=April 2009}}
}}
}}
{{Speciesbox

{{speciesbox
|image = Knautia arvensis flower (side view) - Keila.jpg
|image = Knautia arvensis flower (side view) - Keila.jpg
|genus = Knautia
|genus = Knautia
Line 16: Line 15:
== Description ==
== Description ==
[[File:Acker-Witwenblume Knautia arvensis.jpg|thumb|Nectar-rich inflorescence attracts many insects]]
[[File:Acker-Witwenblume Knautia arvensis.jpg|thumb|Nectar-rich inflorescence attracts many insects]]
It is a perennial plant that grows between {{cvt|25|and|100|cm}}. It prefers grassy places and dry soils, avoiding heavy soils, and flowers between July and September. The flowers are borne on inflorescences in the form of heads; each head contains many small florets. The head is flatter than in similar species, such as [[Succisa pratensis|devil's bit scabious (''Succisa pratensis'')]] and small scabious (''Scabiosa columbaria''). There are 4 [[stamens]] in each floret, and 1 notched long stigma. The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, {{cvt|5|-|6|mm}} in size. It has a [[tap root]]. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. The leaves form a basal [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]], are paired on the stem, the lowest typically {{cvt|300|mm}} long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller. There are no [[stipules]].
It is a perennial plant that grows between {{cvt|25|and|100|cm}}. It prefers grassy places and dry soils, avoiding heavy soils, and flowers between July and September. The flowers are borne on inflorescences in the form of heads; each head contains many small florets. The head is flatter than in similar species, such as [[Succisa pratensis|devil's bit scabious (''Succisa pratensis'')]] and [[Scabiosa columbaria|small scabious (''Scabiosa columbaria'')]]. There are 4 [[stamens]] in each floret, and 1 notched long stigma. The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, {{cvt|5|-|6|mm}} in size. It has a [[tap root]]. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. The leaves form a basal [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]], are paired on the stem, the lowest typically {{cvt|300|mm}} long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller. There are no [[stipules]].


== Ecology ==
== Ecology ==
Line 48: Line 47:
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Knautia|arvensis]]
[[Category:Knautia|arvensis]]



{{Dipsacales-stub}}
{{Dipsacales-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:33, 17 January 2024

Knautia arvensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Knautia
Species:
K. arvensis
Binomial name
Knautia arvensis

Knautia arvensis, commonly known as field scabious, is a herbaceous perennial species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae.

Description

[edit]
Nectar-rich inflorescence attracts many insects

It is a perennial plant that grows between 25 and 100 cm (9.8 and 39.4 in). It prefers grassy places and dry soils, avoiding heavy soils, and flowers between July and September. The flowers are borne on inflorescences in the form of heads; each head contains many small florets. The head is flatter than in similar species, such as devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) and small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria). There are 4 stamens in each floret, and 1 notched long stigma. The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) in size. It has a tap root. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. The leaves form a basal rosette, are paired on the stem, the lowest typically 300 mm (12 in) long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller. There are no stipules.

Ecology

[edit]

It is occasionally used by the marsh fritillary as a foodplant instead of its usual foodplant of devils bit scabious (Succisa pratensis).[1] It is also the foodplant of the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus).

Name

[edit]

Species of scabious were used to treat scabies, and many other afflictions of the skin including sores caused by the bubonic plague. The word scabies comes from the Latin word scabere 'scratch'. Another name for this plant is gipsy rose.[2] The genus Knautia is named after a 17th-century German botanist, Christian Knaut.

Habitat

[edit]

Commonly found on roadsides and field margins, and in meadows, it is particularly abundant where there is chalk bedrock.[3][4][5]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kingfisher Field Guides: Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe
  2. ^ The I-Spy Guide to Wild Flowers by Michelin
  3. ^ British Geological Survey - Karst Aquifers
  4. ^ BSBI distribution maps
  5. ^ Nature Spot - Field Scabious