Centaurea scabiosa

CENTAUREA scabiosa
Greater Knapweed,
Hardheads, Great Knapweed

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Type:
Perennial

Height: 1-2' (30-60cm)

Flowering Time: Summer

Flower Colour: Purple

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Botanical Classification:

Class:
Angiospermae (Angiosperms)

Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons)

Superorder: Asteridae (Daisy Superorder)

Order: Asterales (Daisy Order)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family)

Genus: Centaurea (Knapweed)

Species: scabiosa (like Scabious)

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Centaurea scabiosa is one of the most impressive wildflowers of chalk downland, with large and conspicuous purple flowers. It is a tough woody plant, with a strong, straight, slightly hairy stem and large, rough pinnate leaves. The flowers are around 3" across, bright purple, with the outer 'petals' extended and divided into a fringe, held in a tough cup of brown overlapping scales.
Centaurea scabiosa has been used as a traditional medicinal plant to treat kidney problems, mouth ulcers, and to aid the healing of wounds.
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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

Germination:
Spring
Outside
( days)

Seed Pod There is no seedpod. The seeds are held in a daisy-like seedhead. There are many
seeds in a seedhead.
Seed The seeds are large and woody, initially with a small parachute.
Seedling The seedling has rounded leaves.

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				Germination: Spring Outside ( days)
Seed Pod There is no seedpod. The seeds are held in a daisy-like seedhead. There are many seeds in a seedhead. Seed The seeds are large and woody, initially with a small parachute. Seedling The seedling has rounded leaves.