Pincushion, African white scabious
Scabiosa columbaria

Family: Caprifoliaceae

What it is like

A small herb. It grows 60 cm high and spreads 40 cm wide. It has a woody rootstock. The leaves are grey-green. The leaves at the base are woolly. They can have smooth edges or be deeply lobed. The upper leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These are also often further divided. The flowers are in heads and are purple-blue. They are 40 mm wide. The fruit is dry. It has one seed.

There are about 75-80 Scabiosa species. Also put in the family Dipsacaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows between 5-3,475 m above sea level in South Africa. In Zimbabwe it grows between 800-2,000 m above sea level. It needs well-drained soil. It grows on chalk grasslands in Europe. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Britain, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mediterranean, Mozambique, North Africa, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tasmania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Pigeon's scabious, Mamokhale, Navadni grintavec, Runhema

Synonyms

Scabiosa anthemifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.; Scabiosa austro-africana Heine;