Grass corostavnik

Korostavnik (Knautia) is a genus of herbaceous annuals, biennials and perennialsbelonging to the subfamily of the tufted (Dipsacoideae) from the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), naturally growing in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Many representatives are rare and endangered plants, some are used as medicinal and ornamental crops .

  • Family: honeysuckle.
  • Origin: Southern Europe.
  • Rootstock: branched.
  • Stem: erect, often hollow inside, branching above.
  • Leaves: pinnate or entire, opposite.
  • Fruit: seed.
  • Reproductive ability: seed reproduction, less often division.
  • Light: bright sun.
  • Watering: moderate.
  • Content temperature: decorative types are frost-resistant.
  • Flowering time: mid-summer to frost.

General information about the grass corostavnik

Herbaceous plants with a height of 40 to 250 mm, often densely pubescent, with straight trunks, at the branched ends of which bright heads of inflorescences bloom, similar in shape to a related species of scabiosis.

Basal leaves are petiolate, entire, lanceolate, formed into a rosette, stem leaves are sessile, pinnately dissected.

Corostavnik flowers (see photo below) are small, larger along the edge of the inflorescence, collected in a dense head with a multi-leaf wrapper or a flat-rounded basket. The flower bed and the inner saucer-shaped calyx are covered with bristles, the outer one has a tubular shape. The corolla is irregular, also tubular, with four unequal lobes.

Corostavnik flower in the photo

There are about 50 species in the genus, most of them grow in the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean, some in the temperate and even cold zone of Europe. In Russia, there are 6 species living in the European part, in the Caucasus, as well as introduced in Siberia and the Far East. Some of them are considered rare and protected by the state.

A number of varieties are used in culture. As an ornamental flower, a field corostavnik (K. arvensis), Macedonian (K. macedonica), less often mountain (K. montana) is grown. The bark herb is used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and blood purifier. It has long been recommended for the treatment of various skin ailments, including scabies, which is reflected in the Russian name of the culture, which comes from the word “scab”, another popular name for this unpleasant disease.

The scientific name of the flower was given to him in honor of the German naturalist Christian Knaut, who lived in the late 17th – early 18th century, the author of one of the plant classification systems.

A more detailed description of some of our common species is given below.

Some types and decorative varieties of corostavnik with a photo

Corostavnik Macedonian

Macedonian corostavnik (K. macedonica) , or Rumelian scabiosa (Scabiosa rumelica), lyrophylla (S. Lyrophylla), most often grown in flower beds. In nature, it grows in dry glades and forest edges in the central regions of the Balkans and in the southeast of Romania, which is reflected in the names of the species. Perennial, sometimes cultivated as a biennial. It is a herbaceous openwork bush up to 75 cm high and wide with pubescent stems. The basal rosette of lanceolate-elongated whole leaves often leaves green before winter, and disappears by the beginning of flowering. Stem leaves are pinnate with oval, serrated lobes, the upper of which is lyre-shaped, petiolate closer to the ground, then sessile. Under natural conditions, it lives in dry places, therefore it has a branched, many-headed rhizome, in the tissues of which it stores moisture.

Blooms for a long time, up to 40-50 days. The first buds appear in the middle of summer. Inflorescences can, depending on the variety, be dark red, purple or white, have the form of spherical-flattened heads up to 3 cm in diameter. Outwardly, they look like baskets of Compositae, but, unlike the latter, individual flowers bloom in them simultaneously or from the center to the edge, and not vice versa.

The flowering shrub is very decorative, retains a compact shape until late autumn, and even in winter it can decorate the garden. Looks good in borders, suitable for cutting and dry bouquets, when dried, it retains the color of the flower well. Like all representatives of the genus, it is a good honey plant, attracting numerous butterflies to the garden. It reproduces well by self-sowing, and even weeds.

Several cultivars are available, with the wine red ‘Egyptian Rose’, the dark ruby ‘Rubi Star’ and the compact dark red ‘Pincushion Plant’ being the most commonly grown.

Field barnacle

Field barnacle (K. arvensis) – ubiquitous in Europe, both here and abroad. As a field weed, it occurs along roadsides, edges, meadows and pastures, preferring to settle on fertile soils. The structure of the stems and leaves resembles the previous species, but above it, it can grow up to 150 cm. The color of the inflorescences is lilac or pink-lilac. It is used as an ornamental plant and as a honey plant.

Korostavnik Tatar

Tatar bark (K. tatarica) , another species that grows on the territory of Russia, but, unlike the previous ones, belongs to rare and endangered plants. Occurs in the forest zone of the Volga-Ural region. Herbaceous biennial, up to 2 m tall, with straight trunks hollow inside, densely pubescent, reaching a thickness of 2 cm at the base. Peduncles, as well as leaves, are covered with stiff bristles. Inflorescences – loose heads with a diameter of 2-4 cm, white or light yellow. Propagated exclusively by seeds. It lives on the edges and in sparse places of forests, prefers well-moistened, humus-rich lands. It is listed in the Red Book and classified as a protected species.

Photos of the field, Macedonian and Tatar corostavnik are presented below:

Field corostavnik flower in the photo

Macedonian corostavnik flower in the photo

Flower corostavnik Tatar in the photo

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