Centaurea scabiosa L.

Perennial. Stems erect, ribbed, branched, 40–70–(150) cm tall, with sparse multicellular and cobwebby hairs. Lvs not decurrent on stems, with scabrid hairs; lower lvs deeply 1–(2)-pinnatifid, 12–20–(30) × 3–8–(10) cm, with oblong, obtuse to subacute lateral lobes; upper lvs pinnatifid, becoming sessile, smaller. Capitula not clustered. Involucre globose, (7)–15–20 mm diam.; outer and middle bracts ovate to elliptic, not veined or obscurely 3–7-veined, glabrescent or puberulent or with cobwebby hairs; appendages erect to recurved, pectinate-fimbriate, not covering bracts, membranous, not narrowed at junction with bract, decurrent on upper 1/2of bract; fimbriae 8–14 on each side, brown, 2–3 mm long. Florets purple, the outer radiate. Corolla eglandular. Achenes 4–5.5 mm long, puberulent; pappus 4–5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Mar.; Fruiting: Jan.–Apr.