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Succisa pratensis

Common name:	Devil's Bit Scabious	Family:	Dipsacaceae
Author:	Moench.	Botanical references:	17, 200
Synonyms:	Scabiosa succisa (L.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway to N. Africa, Siberia and the Caucasus.
Habitat:	Meadows, pastures, marshes, fens and damp woods[7, 17] on slightly acid or calcareous soils[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Ascabiosa Mordida [E], Blauwe Knoop [D], Devil'S Bit [E], Devil's Bit Scabious [H], Devil's-bit [B], Devil's-bit Scabious [L], Devilsbit [P], Esekkulagi [E], Ofbit [E,H], Premorse Scabious [H], Succisa [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	pratensis = in meadows
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Dipsacales. Teasel family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Eurasia Europe Spain Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.4m. It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Meadow, Hedgerow, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young shoots - raw[7]. The tender young shoots are sometimes added to spring salads[7].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anthelmintic Demulcent Depurative Diaphoretic Diuretic Emmenagogue Expectorant Febrifuge Stomachic.

The herb is anthelmintic, demulcent, depurative, slightly diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, mildly expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic[4, 7, 9]. It makes a useful tea for the treatment of coughs, fevers and internal inflammations and is also a popular application externally to eczema and other cutaneous eruptions[4, 7]. A tincture of the plant is a gentle but reliable treatment for bruises, aiding quick re-absorption of the blood pigment[7]. The whole herb is collected in early autumn and dried for later use[4].
Good results have been achieved by using a distilled water from the plant as an eye lotion to treat conjunctivitis[7].

Other Uses

Dye.

A green dye is obtained from the leaves[7, 115].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1], preferring damp conditions[24, 200], in sun or semi-shade[200]. Prefers a moist peaty soil[187].
Hardy to about -20° c[187].
Grows well in the summer meadow[24], it is an excellent bee and butterfly plant and a food plant for the caterpillars of many butterfly species[17, 24, 30].

Propagation

Seed - sow April in a cold frame. Germination is usually rapid, but the seedlings are prone to damp off so make sure they are well ventilated[1]. Prick them out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Plant them straight out into their permanent positions.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Scabiosa succisa (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for succisa pratensis (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

References for the family Dipsacaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.

[30] Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.

[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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