Caprifoliaceae
Scabiosa

Scabiosa columbaria L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 99 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Europe to Iran and Arabian Peninsula, NW. Africa, Tropical African Mountains. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb, 0.15–1.2 m. high, with erect branched pubescent stems, markedly heterophyllous.
Morphology Leaves
Radical leaves sessile, entire or deeply lobed in the lower part with the margin toothed or crenate above, glabrous or pubescent; lower stem-leaves deeply pinnatifid, rarely bipinnate; upper stem-leaves deeply pinnatipartite, smaller and simply pinnate or entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Heads (2–)2.5– 3.5(–4) cm. in diameter, on long peduncles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts of the receptacle linear-lanceolate, acute, 3–5 mm. long, pubescent above. Involucral bracts lanceolate, acute, varying from half the length of the marginal flowers to exceeding them.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Involucel pubescent, becoming 8-furrowed and (including the limb) 4–5 mm. long in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx small, pilose, with bristles 3–6 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla lilac, mauve or, rarely, pinkish, 5–20 mm. long, larger and more unequally lobed in the marginal flowers.
Figures
Fig. 3/5, p. 8.
Habitat
Upland grassland and grass-moor; 2100–4100 m.
Distribution
K1 K3 K4 K5 T2 U1 U3
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb up to 1·5 m., with erect branched stems, heterophyllous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves of non–flowering rosettes and basal stem leaves ovate–lanceolate, obovate or lanceolate, simple, lyrate or pinnatifid, upper stem leaves 1–2 pinnatifid or pinnatisect, the segments lanceolate to linear, the terminal segment larger than the lateral, hispid or pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower heads on long peduncles, globular or hemispherical (2–)2·5–3·5(–4) cm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Receptacle bracts linear, acute 3–5 mm. long. Involucral bracts linear lanceolate, acute, shorter than or equalling the marginal flowers, pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Involucel tube cylindrical, 8–furrowed, pubescent, 2–3·5 mm. long in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona glabrous, membranaceous, conspicuously veined, 0·5–1·5 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx pilose, cupuliform, bearing 5 setae, 1–8 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla mauve or white, or the tube white and lip mauve, 5–lobed with 3 larger and 2 smaller lobes, larger and more irregularly lobed in the marginal flowers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Mature fruit 2–4 mm. long, corona and calyx persistent.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. 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 2023. 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

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images