sunbeem - Irene
Greater Knapweed – Centaurea scabiosa
The Greater Knapweed belongs in the family of Asteraceae and flowers from June until September and it is found growing in mainly chalky soils and it a favourite of butterflies including Common blues, Marbled whites and Meadow browns and obviously lots of other insects that pollinate these lovely flowers. The flowers themselves are in my opinion a little different than others because the flowers on the side of the flower head are sterile and are there only to attract insects whereas the flowers on the crown of the flower head are fertile. An interesting fact I found out is that this plant is the only food plant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth.
Greater Knapweed – Centaurea scabiosa
The Greater Knapweed belongs in the family of Asteraceae and flowers from June until September and it is found growing in mainly chalky soils and it a favourite of butterflies including Common blues, Marbled whites and Meadow browns and obviously lots of other insects that pollinate these lovely flowers. The flowers themselves are in my opinion a little different than others because the flowers on the side of the flower head are sterile and are there only to attract insects whereas the flowers on the crown of the flower head are fertile. An interesting fact I found out is that this plant is the only food plant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth.