E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Knautia arvensis (L.) J.M. Coult.
field scabious (field scabiosa)
Dipsacaceae (Teasel family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Virginia Skilton  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #8814)

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Distribution of Knautia arvensis
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a taproot and sometimes elongate stem-base; stems erect, more or less stiff-hairy, 0.3-1.0 m tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves coarsely toothed; stem leaves oblanceolate, opposite, deeply pinnatifid, with narrow lateral and broader terminal segments, 10-25 cm long, reduced upwards.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of dense, hemispheric heads terminating long naked stalks, 1.5-4 cm wide; corollas lilac or purple, funnel-shaped, 9-12 mm long, 4-lobed, outermost ones largest, glabrous; calyces cuplike, 3-4 mm long, usually with 8 bristlelike teeth; involucral bracts equal, 8-12 mm long; receptacles not scaly, merely hairy.
Fruits:
Achenes, 5-6 mm long, 4-angled, densely hairy.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry roadsides and fields in the montane zone; rare in C and SC BC; introduced from Eurasia.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Scabiosa arvensis L.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References