Knautia arvensis, commonly known as field scabious, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe. It is recognized by its rounded heads of lilac to pink flowers carried on tall, slender stems above rough, softly hairy leaves. Despite its common name, it is not a true scabious, although it closely resembles members of that group. The genus Knautia commemorates the German botanists Christoph and Christian Knaut, who studied European flora in the 17th century. Flowering from early summer into autumn, it is one of the longest-blooming meadow plants, adding color to grasslands for several months.
