Caprifoliaceae

Scabiosa L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 98 (1753), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Temp. Eurasia, Macaronesia to N. Africa, Eritrea to S. Africa.

Descriptions

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, rarely suffruticose
Morphology Stem
Stems usually hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Involucel in fruit 8-ridged with a campanulate or rotate crown carrying a variable number of teeth Involucral bracteoles minute or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx limb patelliform, stipitate or nearly sessile with 5 bristles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 5-fid.
Note
Scabiosa (from Lat. scabies, itch, which the rough (scurfy) leaves might have been used to cure.)
[FIQ]

Dipsacaceae, D. M. Napper. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
Erect perennial or annual herbs, usually markedly heterophyllous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves entire or deeply divided
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle bracts linear-lanceolate, much shorter than the flowers, glabrous or pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Involucel smooth or 8-furrowed towards the top only or throughout its length, with a membranous many-veined entire or subentire erect or spreading limb Heads involucrate with 1–2 rows of foliaceous bracts shorter or longer than the flowers Inflorescence terminal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx small with 5 teeth each produced into a long scabrid or barbed bristle; bristles subequal, spreading in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 5-fid (4–6-fid flowers occur sometimes in the same head); lobes unequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Marginal flowers are usually considerably longer than the inner ones with a more asymmetric corolla
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma oblique, entire.
[FTEA]

Dipsacaceae, Margaret J. & J. F. M. Cannon. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs, often heterophyllous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, simple or deeply divided.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula hemispherical or cylindrical, often on long peduncles, involucral bracts herbaceous, in 1 to several rows.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle bracts usually linear–lanceolate, shorter than the flowers, glabrous or pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Involucel tube cylindrical, smooth or furrowed, 4–8 ribbed, expanded above into a membranous, many veined, erect or spreading corona.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx small, usually with 5 bristle–like teeth, spreading in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla of 5 unequal lobes, (rarely 4–6), and a short tube, usually longer in the marginal flowers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Iraq

    • Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. (Eds). (2013-2019). Flora of Iraq, Volumes 5.1, 5.2 and 6.0. Kew Publishing
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0