Sweet scabious
Sixalix atropurpurea
Family · Caprifoliaceae · Harmless
The dark purple pincushion that turns up on verges and sandy ground almost all year, with dozens of stamens sticking out of the head like needles. It is among the most butterfly-visited flowers in the Peninsula.
Roadsides and waste ground · Fields and pasture · Dunes and sand · Scrubland
Also known asmournful widow, pincushion flower
How to tell it
A flat flower head, dark purple or lilac, with marginal florets larger than the central ones and white stamens sticking out. A thin, long, almost bare stem. The dry fruit is a ball of small papery cups, very characteristic.
What it is confused with
No dangerous lookalikes known in the Iberian Peninsula.
What it is for
No relevant use. It is a garden plant in several varieties, and in the field it counts as one of the best late-summer nectar sources.