Small Scabious
Scabiosa columbaria
Small Scabious is a perennial herbaceous plant reaching heights of 30 to 80 centimeters. It is characterized by its pigeon-blue to lilac flower heads with distinctive five-lobed marginal florets. The plant prefers sunny, dry locations on calcareous soils and serves as an important nectar source for a wide variety of insect species.
Details
Habitat function
Habitat and food source for insects of dry open landscapes.
Nutrient uptake
Low nutrient requirement, specialized in lean soils.
Food source for
Butterflies, burnet moths, hoverflies, wild bees (e.g., Andrena hattorfiana).
Human use
Used in wildlife gardening and as an ornamental plant for dry sites.
Ecology
Ecological role
Important nectar plant for specialized wild bees and butterflies; larval food plant for burnet moths.
Natural predators
Snails, grazing by livestock, insect larvae.
Competitor species
Tall grasses and shrubs in the absence of management of dry grasslands.
Ecosystem service
Support of biodiversity by providing food for pollinators.
Threats
Eutrophication through nitrogen deposition, abandonment of dry grassland management, scrub encroachment.
Scientific profile
Profile
Reproduction
Sexual reproduction via seeds; cross-pollination predominates.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Eutrophication due to nitrogen deposition, abandonment of land use (scrub encroachment), conversion of nutrient-poor grasslands into arable land or intensive grassland.