Photographs: Ballingeary, Co. Cork

Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis Odhrach bhallach Family: Caprifoliaceae Flowering time: July - October. Perennial / biennial. Native. Flowers are blue-mauve with short outer florets surrounded by involucral bracts. The stalked leaves are oval-lanceolate, shallow-toothed or entire and grow mainly near base of plant. The erect stems are usually sparsely hairy. Height: 40-120cm. Widespread throughout Ireland on damp ground in fields and on roadsides, heaths and cut-away bogs. Similar: Field Scabious, Knautia arvensis

Devil's-bit Scabious, Succisa pratensis, Odhrach bhallach