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Devil's-bit scabious

 

Devil's-bit scabious

Peetrileht

Succisa pratensis

 

Field scabious

Äiatar

Knautia arvensis

 

The devil’s-bit scabious is very similar in appearance to its nearest relative, the field scabious. Let us look at the characteristics that make the plants easy to identify:

The devil’s-bit scabious has completely entire, grass-green leaves, bare stems, and grows in moist habitats, sometimes actually in mires.

The field scabious has lobed leaves and numerous hairs on the stems.

The flowers of the devil’s-bit scabious are bluer, almost without any purple tinges, and the flowers, in rounded heads, are all of the same size.

The edge florets of the field scabious are larger. Is that for it to be more easily seen by pollinators?

 

Field scabious