Latin name: knautia arvensis (L.) Coult
The generic name, Knautia, is derived from a Saxon botanist of the seventeenth century, Dr. Knaut.
The name Scabious is supposed to be connected with the word 'scab' (a scaly sore), a word derived
from the Latin scabies (a form of leprosy), for which and for other diseases of a similar character,
some of these species were used as remedies. ://www.biomatnet.org/secure/crops/F597.htm
Distribution of kanutia arvensis
Frequent over most of British Isles but very local in North Ireland and North & West Scotland
Description---There are several species of Scabious, Species include:

Knautia arvensis - Meadow Widow Flower, Blue Buttons, Field Scabious

Knautia carinthiaca

Knautia drymeia - Hungarian Widow Flower

Knautia kitaiebellii

Knautia longifolia - Long Leaf Widow Flower

Knautia Macedonia

Knautia maxima - Forest Widow Flower

Knautia norica
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Of which the Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) is the largest. It is abundant throughout Britain,
flowering best, however, on chalk, and very frequent in meadows, hedgerows or amidst standing corn,
where its large blossoms, of a delicate mauve, render it very conspicuous and attractive. The root is
perennial, dark in colour and somewhat woody, and takes such a firm hold on the ground that it is only
eradicated with difficulty. The stems are round and only slightly branched, 2 to 3 feet high, somewhat
coarse with short, whitish hairs and rather bare of leaves, except at the base. The leaves vary in
character in different plants and in different parts of the same plant; they grow in pairs on the stem and
are hairy. The lowest leaves are stalked and very simple in character, about 5 inches long and 1 inch
broad, lance-shaped, their margins cut into by large teeth. The upper ones are stalkless, their blades
meeting across the main stem and cut into almost to the mid-rib, to form four or five pairs of narrow
lobes, with a terminal big lobe. The flowers are all terminal and borne on long stalks. The heads are
large and convex in outline, the inner florets are regularly cleft into four lobes or segments, the outer
ones are larger and generally, though not always, with rays cut into very unequal segments. The florets
when in bud are packed tightly, but with beautiful regularity. The fruit is rather large, somewhat fourcornered and crowned by several short, bristly hairs that radiate from its summit.
Young plant
Botanical references 17,200
Family: Dipsacaceae: Teasel family
Common name: Blue buttons
Synaonymus Scabiosa arvensis - L
Chromosome number: (2n=16, 20, 40).
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Growth and development
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both
male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). It is noted for
attracting wildlife. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires
well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very
alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.
(Ethno botany) The use of Plant by Man
Edible uses
None known
Medicinal Action and Uses
Medical uses
The whole plant is astringent and mildly diuretic (Launert. E, 1981). An infusion is used
internally as a blood purifier and externally for treating cuts, burns and bruises (Launert. E
1981). The fresh or dried flowering plant can be used, with or without the roots (Launert. E,
1981). A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant (Launert. E, 1981). It is used as a blood
purifier and as a treatment for eczema and other skin disorders Launert. E (1981).
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A native wild flower found in dry grassy fields a lovely perennial, often flowering the first
year, with somewhat bristly foliage, and bearing all summer bluish-lilac, Scabious-like
flowers. The plant (along with other Scabious species) has had many herbal uses in the past
from the treatment of stomach ulcers to the use of its juice, mixed with other herbs, to remove
freckles and pimples. 1-4 ft. http://www.edirectory.co.uk
The plant gendereth scabs, if the decoction thereof be drunke certain daies and the juice used in
ointments.'this juice 'being drunke, procureth sweat, especially with Treacle, and atenuateth and
maketh thin, freeing the heart from any infection or pestilence.' it is 'very effectual for coughs,
shortness of breath and other diseases of the lungs,' and that the 'decoction of the herb, dry or green,
made into wine and drunk for some time together,' is good for pleurisy. The green herb, bruised and
applied to any carbuncle was stated by him to dissolve the same 'in three hours' space,' and the same
decoction removed pains and stitches in the side. The decoction of the root was considered a cure for
all sores and eruptions, the juice being made into an ointment for the same purpose. Also, 'the
decoction of the herb and roots outwardly applied in any part of the body, is effectual for shrunk
sinews or veins and healeth green wounds, old sores and ulcers.' The juice of Scabious, with powder of
Borax and Samphire, was recommended for removing freckles, pimples and leprosy, the head being
washed with the same decoction, used warm, for dandruff and scurf, etc. http://botenical.com
Other uses
Field scabious is a wild plant, native to many parts of Europe, where it is most common in
dry, grassy areas. It is now regarded as a potential oilseed crop: the seeds contain about 25
percent oil, of which some 33-40 percent is in the form of the saturated caprylic and capric
acids. These acids are being increasingly used in high-performance oils for jet engines and
other lubricants of high quality, and also in the preparation of some valued dietary fats. At
present, the only directly available sources of these acids are coconut and palm kernel oil,
which are imported principally for their content of lauric acid, used in soap and detergent
manufacture. A locally grown source of these acids would be welcomed by the oleochemical
industry; preliminary agronomic studies have be en undertaken at Sonning during recent
years. ://www.biomatnet.org/secure/crops/F597.htm further more the plant is an important
source of nectar and pollen for bees and Lepidoptera[24, 108].
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Propagation and planting, harvesting and yield
Plants may tiller profusely, and well established scabious plants may form clumps of up to 50
cm diameter. The earliest-formed rosette leaves are of a pointed oval shape, with a prominent
midrib: later leaves are notched, the notching becoming more pronounced in successive
leaves, the stem leaves often being reduced to strap-like structures with little tissue around the
midrib. The stems are thin, tough and lightly ridged, often attaining 1 m in height.
Unripe seed head
Seeds
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The seeds are exposed, and change colour through light green and yellow to tan, falling to the
ground when ripe. Established scabious plants are drought-resistant and are found naturally in
open, sunny situations. Though it is by nature a perennial, scabious will flower and produce
seed if grown as an annual, either autumn or spring sown. Few guidelines for the culture of
this species may yet be given with assurance; it is suggested that 40 plants per square metre
may be a suitable plant density for annual crops, but much lower populations should be
adequate for sowings which are to be retained as perennials. As with many perennial species,
establishment and early growth are slow, so weed control is of great importance. Trials with
some linuron products, applied pre-emergence, have shown these to be effective without any
apparent toxicity to the crop. Well-established perennial crops should suppress weeds
effectively The nutritional needs of the crop have not yet been examined, but fertiliser
requirements are not expected to be high. The long flowering period, which may extend for
several months, together with the exposed seed-beds, makes the timing of harvest very
difficult: so far, a succession of harvests has been taken in order to assess yield potential.
Recorded yields to date have been disappointing, values of up to 0.35 t seed per ha for annual
crops and 0.7 t per ha for perennial ones, though all these measurements are from plots in
which the established populations were considered to be substantially sub-optimal. Results so
far suggest that the best method of culture may be to sow in spring a crop which is intended to
remain in the ground for some years; once established, crops should require little
maintenance. It may prove possible to shorten the flowering and harvesting seasons by the use
of plant growth regulators, or, in the longer term, by breeding: observation of wild plants
suggests that there is considerable variability in earliness and length of flowering season.
http://www.biomatnet.org/secure/crops/F597.htm
Ecology ( climate/ soil vegetation type.)
Succeeds in any well-drained soil[187]. Prefers a dry soil[9, 17]. Grows well on chalky soils[4].
Prefers a sunny position[188]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least 25°c[187]. Grows well in the summer meadow[24, 187]. The plants are sometimes dioecious, if this is
the case then male and female plants will need to be grown if seed is required.
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Handling after harvest
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the
seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have enough seed
it would be worthwhile trying a sowing in situ outdoors in the spring. The seed germinates in
the spring in the wild. Division in the spring. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots
when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into
individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are
rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
What does it look like?
Field scabious (Knautia arvensis (L.) Duby) is a simple perennial that reproduces and spreads
by seed. It has pale purple to blue flowers in dense heads composed of numerous, tube-shaped
florets. Stems can grow up to 1.3 metres tall and are sparsely branched. Very often the entire
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plant (including the flower buds) is covered in short, stiff hairs. The leaves are opposite and
deeply divided into 5-15 narrow segments.
Other botanical information
Its weedy nature
Field scabious is a non-native plant of European origin. It is found primarily in pastures,
waste places and roadsides. It is a very effective competitor, and is difficult to remove once
established. It can quickly take over pastures where competition by desired species is reduced,
such as in an overgrazed pasture situation. Although this plant is not poisonous to livestock it
is very unpalatable when mature with little nutritional value. Cattle will eat young plants
before they bolt.
Its control
Field scabious cannot survive repeated cultivation, so it is not a problem in annual crops. In
very severe infestations, intense cultivation with a disc will destroy roots for that season.
Planting to an annual crop is then recommended to effectively out compete remaining plants.
Mowing to prevent the spread of seed before flowers form is the best method of cultural
control. Field scabious flowers briefly in late June to early July so low mowing at bolting
(when the plant begins to rapidly get taller) is suggested. Infested areas should be monitored
for regrowth throughout the summer and mowed again if necessary.
If mowing is done after flowers have formed, mowed plants should be gathered and disposed
of by burning or placed in a sanitary landfill, as field scabious seeds are viable almost as soon
as flowers form. All equipment used should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent seed transfer to
non-infested sites.
For small infestations,
hand pulling is very easy and highly effective. A combination of mowing and cultivation can
also be used.
Split applications of some herbicides during the spring and again in the fall of the same year
have given very positive results for heavier infestations.
At the present time there is no registered herbicide for the control of field scabious,
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http://www.floracyberia
Picture http:// www.robs plants.com
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References
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-60037216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting
information.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no
pictures.
[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. 0
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.
[108] International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable
to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981
The title says it all.
[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991
ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants
together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little
information on plant uses.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN
0-333-47494-5
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