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Scabiosa L.Dipsacaceae |
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Alternate trade names
pincushion flower, scabious Common names
pincushion flower, mournful widow, scabious Species cultivated
Most commonly cultivated Scabiosa caucasica Bieb. (perennial) S. atropurpurea L. (annual) Other species S. columbaria L. S. lucida Vill. S. ochroleuca L. S. prolifera L. S. speciosa Royle2 S. stellata L. Origin
Eurasia. Brief characterization
Unbranched stems bearing pinnatifid leaves and flowers in solitary heads, each head subtended by involucre of leafy bracts; calyx cup-shaped below, upper part extended into 5 bristles; corolla sympetalous, with 5 unequal lobes; corolla of marginal flowers usually longer than the central, with 3 expanded lobes ("rays" of head) and 2 unexpanded that may be fused into 1; large, distinct, exserted stamens. Stamens and marginal flowers distinguish Scabiosa flowerheads from those of Asteraceae. Cultivar and/or species variation
Heads 2.5-10 cm across, commonly white, purple, blue, or pink; cultivars of Scabiosa caucasica are single, those of S. atropurpurea fully double. May be confused with
Scabiosa may mistakenly be thought to be in the Asteraceae, but careful examination of the florets will show it is not in that family. Countries exporting
Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe.  |
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Scabiosa stellata (dried):
stem (left), head (right) |
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