Scabiosa
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, rarely woody at base. Leaves opposite, connected across node by a ridge, simple, entire, dentate or lobed, sessile or petiolate. Inflorescences depressed subglobose or ovoid-conical; involucral bracts in 1–3 rows, non-spinose, persistent; receptacle bracts usually linear-lanceolate; epicalyx cylindrical, ribbed, with a cupular corona. Calyx with 5 bristle-like lobes covered with fine hairs and stalked glands, persistent in fruit; corolla funnel-shaped with a short tube and 5 unequal lobes in marginal flowers, lobes subequal and shorter in central flowers; stamens 4, anthers exserted, versatile; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit an ellipsoid cypsela.
About 100 species, from Eurasia and Africa; 1 species naturalised in Australia.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Dipsacaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 650–651. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
