Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 8087525

Greater Knapweed

Centaurea scabiosa

Also known as Greater Centaury

Greater Knapweed is a robust perennial with deeply divided rough leaves and large purple flower heads borne singly on upright stems. Dark triangular bracts with comb-like fringes form a distinctive overlapping cup beneath each flower head.

knapweedpurple flower headcalcareous grassland
Greater Knapweed reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Yurii Basov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Yurii Basov · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Produces energy through photosynthesis and stores resources in a persistent rootstock
Predators
  • aphids
  • weevils
  • grazing mammals
ThreatsGrassland conversion, fertilizer enrichment, early mowing, herbicide use, and dense scrub growth
HabitatsChalk and limestone grassland, scrub margins, road verges, banks, and open woodland
Life spanA long-lived perennial that can flower repeatedly over many seasons
Classification
  1. FamilyAsteraceae
  2. SpeciesCentaurea scabiosa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Leave flower heads standing for insects and avoid trampling species-rich limestone turf.
Responsible observation
  • Identify: Inspect the dark comb-fringed bracts below a large purple flower head.
  • Observe: View from the path while noting pollinator visits to individual heads.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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