Citation: L., Sp.Pl. 100 (1753).

Synonymy: S. maritima L Cent.2 Pl. 8 (1756); S. atropurpurea L. subsp. matitima (L.)Arcang., Comp. Fl. ltal. 330 (1882); 5 atropurpurea L. var. maritima (L.)Bég. in Fiori & Paol., Fl. Analit. d'Ital. 3:152 (1903).

Common name: Scabious, (purple), pincushion.

Description:
Usually perennial herbs forming untidily branched shrublets to 0.5 m diam., the more or less ridged branches covered with simple reflexed hairs; basal leaves oblanceolate-spathulate, long-petiolate, entire or serrate, becoming sessile and deeply pinnately lobed (lyrate) but the number of entire lateral lobes decrease below the flower heads and are sometimes reduced to linear-oblanceolate entire blades, 3-15 x 0.4-5 cm, acute, with a long-cuneate base joined along a ridge on the nodes to the opposite leaf, sparsely hairy mainly on the undersurface.

Inflorescence a rounded to elongate head with an outer ring of flowers with the outer 3 corolla lobes much enlarged, subtended by linear leaf-like bracts; calyx lobes becoming stiff bristles, covered with hairs and stalked glands; corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, 8-22 mm long, with the outer 3 lobes much enlarged in outer florets, hairy out side; anthers versatile, exserted above the corolla style stout and swollen below the usually faintly 2-lobed stigma.

Fruit narrowly ellipsoid, constricted into a beak below the stiff spreading persistent calyx bristles, enclosed in the membranous involucel tube which is constricted in the middle the upper margins curved inward, with 8 vertical grooves along the lower part.

	Habit, flower head, outer flower with spreading corolla lobes, inner flower, infructescence, fruit and leaf.
Image source: fig. 621b in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Morley & Toelken (1983) Flowering plants in Australia, fig. 148.

Distribution:    W. Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   Native to the Mediterranean region. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: throughout the year but mainly in spring and early summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: S. maritima is regarded by some authorities as a distinct species, subspecies or variety but in the majority of publications it is considered to be only a horticultural form of S. atropurpurea.

Author: Not yet available