Centaurea scabiosa

Greater knapweed

Blütenstand (CC BY-SA 4.0) Ivar Leidus

Short Description

Greater knapweed can grow up to 1.2 m tall.

The leaves are leathery and usually only slightly rough-haired. They are divided into individual leaflets with different long, elongated or narrow sections.

The stem is irregularly branched in different directions. It is angular and rough haired.

At first glance, the flower cluster can be mistaken for the flower. However, it is a false flower. It consists of numerous, single, red-purple tubular flowers. The flowers are enlarged funnel-shaped at the edge.

The plant produces small, nut-like fruits with a crown of hairs at the tip.

Features

Greater knapweed

Centaurea scabiosa
  • red-purple flowers

  • rough stalk

Habitus (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Isidre blanc

In the city

It is relatively rare in the city and occurs on dry or semi-dry grasslands and on dry roadsides or meadows. It prefers dry, sunny sites with nutrient-poor, stony clay soils.

Fun Facts

  • The flowers or flower heads have a milder taste than the leaves.

  • It flowers from June to August.

  • It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
  • The leaves and flower buds can be eaten in salad.

Blütenstand (CC BY-SA 3.0) Franz Xaver

Sources

Blütenstand, Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombus_veteranus_-_Centaurea_scabiosa_-_Keila.jpg

Habitus, Isidre blanc, CC-BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_scabiosa-_LLANERA_-_IB-824.jpg

Blütenstand, Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_scabiosa_sadleriana_1.jpg

Eggenberg, S. & Möhl, A. (2007) Flora Vegetativa: Ein Bestimmungsbuch für Pflanzen der Schweiz im blütenlosen Zustand, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Haupt Verlag.

Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.

Jäger, E. J. (2011) Rothmaler - Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Gefäßpflanzen: Grundband, Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.

Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.

Lippert, W. & Podlech, D. (1993) GU Naturführer. Blumen: die wichtigen Blütenpflanzen Mitteleuropas erkennen und bestimmen, München: Gräfe und Unzer Verlag.

Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.

Page „Skabiosen-Flockenblume“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 22.10.2016, 13:20 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skabiosen-Flockenblume&oldid=158970426 (Accessed: 20.04.2017).