Devils Bit

Botanical Name: Succisa pratensis

Family: Dipsacaceae

Other Names: Blue caps, devil’s bit scabious, ofbit

Habitat: Damp places, meadows, fens, and roadsides

Description: Perennial herb. Stout, erect. Basal rosette Leaves: opposite, stalked, lanceolate-ovate. Flowers: blue-purple, florets four lobed, hairy receptacle

Native to: Europe

Parts Used: Herb

Harvesting: June-October

Actions: Demulcent, diaphoretic, febrifuge

Constituents: Iridoids –catalpol, verbenalin, loganin

Tannins, saponins, sugar, scabioside, amidon

  Other Notes: Scabious relates to its alleged healing properties for leprosy and scabies

  Devil’s bit relates to the root, which looks to have been bitten off at the end

  It is a nectar plant for butterflies and bees

  Birds will eat the seeds from this plant

  Magically it is said to protect people from evil