I first remember noticing pincushion flower (also called scabious, honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae) on a hike on the coast of Italy. What a pretty flower!
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| scabious, Scabiosa or Krautia, in Italy |
Scabious is used as the common name of a group of related plants. Some are classified in the genus Scabiosa (about 70 species), some in the genera Knautia (55 species) and others in Succisa (3 species). They all have flowerheads made of dozens of tiny florets. Most have pink or lavender flowers but the they range over to rich deep reds. They are native across Eurasia but not to North America. In some places in the United States, though, they have escaped from gardens and naturalized.
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| scabious |
There are four common scabiouses. Small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria), field scabious (Knautia arvensis), devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), and Mediterranean sweet scabious (Scabious atropurpurea). The first two are widespread in Northern Europe and look like my photos, the flowers pale purple or bluish, with a row of larger flowers around the outside, smaller flowers inside The leaves are divided. Devil's bit scabious has similar flowers but in only one size, and simple, linear leaves. Identification is only as good as the references you have and I do not have enough information to separate the first three to my satisfaction in my photographs and I cannot be sure that there are not other species in my photos from Europe. The fourth species found in the United States is, with small scabious, the plant offered for sale in the U.S. as scabious, and has been bred to be many colors. Mediterranean sweet scabious is an annual (the others are perennials) and on the verge of being a problem weed in California where it is widely naturalized (link).
Scabious, the common name, and the scientific name Scabiosa, are both supposed to be based on their traditional medicinal use to treat scabs and itching. Comments in older English works suggest several species of scabious were common wildflowers, easily gathered for medicinal use. The whole plant or the juice of the plant, alone or as a decoction, made a solution used to soften scabs, and bruises, scars, and welts. Modern medicine finds the plant rich in antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties, so likely these applications had some efficacy. However, modern herbal works do not include it and when medical websites mention it, they say it has no proven uses (example).
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| Scabious or pin cushion flower (you have to look closely for the pincushion effect) |
Easy to notice, these plants have many names. The name pincushion flower is used about as often as scabious. It is based on looking closely at the flowers and seeing stigmas and stamens sticking out, like pins in a pincushion. Devil's bit scabious has a root that goes down like a baby carrot and then suddenly stops, with only thin root hair beyond. According to folklore, the devil bit off the end of the root. Devil's bit scabious was so good at healing people's bruises and scabs that the devil tried to kill it by biting off its root. The plant survived, forever with a truncated root and a name that explains that.
In northern Europe, scabious flowers were one of the plants people could use to glimpse the future. A girl would use them to choose a suitor by naming a scabious bud for each of the young men that interested her and waiting to see which bud developed into the finest flower.
The lighter colors retained their positive associations. Wear devil's bit scabious around your neck for protection that drives away evil. It will also help attract women's interest and bring luck generally.
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| scabious in Ireland |
Devil's bit scabious was well-regarded in Ireland. Cattle that ate lots of it would produce rich milk and where it grew indicated good land for cattle. It was an important ingredient in potions against magic and the Evil Eye. Picked before dawn, saying the right charm, it would cure any sore, even old difficult ones. Twisting the stem slowly and seeing if it would right itself 'curl-doddy' could be used in a charm to summon a brownie to clean the house,
"Curl-doddy, do my biddin'
Soop my house and hool my midden"
(sweep my house and clean the dungheap) (Mac Coitir p. 164)
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| scabious |
Mediterranean sweet scabious (Scabiosa atropurpurea) was popular in England in the Victorian Era (link to see the deep red). Victorians used the deep red flowers at funerals and in bouquets for widows, leading to the name mourning bride. That is probably also why, in the Language of Flowers to give someone common scabious meant "unfortunate love" and sweet scabious meant "widowhood."
Across the world, the nectar of scabious plants attracts bees and butterflies. Very pretty little flowers.
Comments and corrects welcome.
References
Cunningham, S. 2003. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. 2nd edition. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Greenaway, K. 1979. Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers. Avenel Books. New York.
Mac Coitir, N. 2015. Ireland's Wild Plants. Collins Press. Cork, Ireland.
Martin, L. C. 1987. Garden Flower Folklore. The Globe Pequot Press. Chester, Connecticut.
Reader's Digest Nature Libray. 1981. Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain. Reader's Digest Association. London.
Skala, E. and A. Szopa. 2023. Dipsacus and Scabiosa species. The source of specialized metabolites with high biological relevance: a review. Molecules 298(9): 3754. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37175164/
Kathy Keeler
A Wandering Botanist
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