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From June to September, common knapweed holds up dense heads of purple florets, seen here from above. Each floret is a narrow tube, with a dark column of anthers rising from its centre and dusted with pale pollen. Beneath the flowers sits a hard, round knob covered in dark brown, fringed scales, which gave the plant its old names "hardheads" and "loggerheads." "Knap" is an old word for a knob.
Knapweed is one of the most valuable wildflowers for insects. Its florets are rich in nectar, drawing bumblebees, butterflies such as meadow browns and common blues, and many hoverflies, and in autumn goldfinches feed on its seeds. It grows in meadows, verges and rough grassland, and readily colonises the grassland on reclaimed colliery land.
It also features in country love divination. A young woman would pull off the open florets and tuck the flower head away, and if new florets opened, she would soon meet her sweetheart. Its genus name, Centaurea, like that of centaury, refers to the centaur Chiron of Greek legend, famed for his knowledge of healing plants.
From June to September, common knapweed holds up dense heads of purple florets, seen here from above. Each floret is a narrow tube, with a dark column of anthers rising from its centre and dusted with pale pollen. Beneath the flowers sits a hard, round knob covered in dark brown, fringed scales, which gave the plant its old names "hardheads" and "loggerheads." "Knap" is an old word for a knob.
Knapweed is one of the most valuable wildflowers for insects. Its florets are rich in nectar, drawing bumblebees, butterflies such as meadow browns and common blues, and many hoverflies, and in autumn goldfinches feed on its seeds. It grows in meadows, verges and rough grassland, and readily colonises the grassland on reclaimed colliery land.
It also features in country love divination. A young woman would pull off the open florets and tuck the flower head away, and if new florets opened, she would soon meet her sweetheart. Its genus name, Centaurea, like that of centaury, refers to the centaur Chiron of Greek legend, famed for his knowledge of healing plants.