Devil's-bit Scabious - Succisa pratensis

Medium to tall hairy plant, stems erect to ascending. Basal leaves elliptical, often broadest above the middle, generally untoothed. The upper leaves often toothed. Flowers lilac to deep purple blue, very occasionally white in rounded heads 15 to 25 mm across.

Old grassland sometimes in damp places, commons, heaths and marshes.

July to October

Perennial

Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain except for a small area of East Anglia.

Fairly frequent but rather local in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 112 of the 617 tetrads.