Succisa pratensis
| Habit | herbaceous
| |
|---|---|---|
| Height: | ⇕ | 12 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 12. to 36 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 36. |
| Width: | ⇔ | 6 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6. to 12 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 12. |
| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial |
| Bloom: | ❀ | early summer, mid summer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall |
| Exposure: | ☼ | sun, part-sun |
|---|---|---|
| Water: | ◍ | moist, moderate |
| Features: | ✓ | flowers |
| USDA Zones: | 5 to 9 | |
| Flower features: | ❀ | blue, purple |
|
Succisa > |
Succisa pratensis Moench also known as Devils-bit Scabious, is a flowering plant of the genus Succisa in the family Dipsacaceae. It differs from other similar species in that it has 4 lobed flowers, whereas Small Scabious and Field scabious have 5 lobes and hence it has been placed in a separate genus in the same family[1]. It also grows on damper ground[2].
Its leaves are also un-lobed unlike Field scabious[3], and are arranged in opposite pairs. The leaves and plant can be confused with Greater Knapweed however Knapweed has leaves that are alternate, not opposite.
It prefers moist soil - damp meadows and woods, lowland heath, marshy areas; but will tolerate drier conditions. Male and female flowers are produced on different heads, the female being smaller[4]. Flowers from June until October.
It is a good source of nectar and is the foodplant of Marsh fritillary, whose eggs are laid in groups on the underside of the plant, and Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus. As both plant and invertebrates are rare, their survival relies on careful management of sites containing these species.
Cultivation
Propagation
Pests and diseases
Varieties
Gallery
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3
References
External links
- w:Succisa pratensis. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Succisa pratensis QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)