Knapweed - Black
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Botanical Name |
Centaurea nigra |
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Family |
Asteraceae |
|
Other Names |
Black knapweed, black ray thistle, hardheads, ironweed, knobweed, star thistle |
|
Habitat |
Hedges, railway embankments, roadsides, scrub, meadows, grassy places |
|
Description |
Perennial 30-60cm/1-2ft tall tough, branching stems, similar to thistles but without the prickly leaves. Leaves are undivided Flowers bright purple, globular, tubular June-September |
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Native to |
Europe |
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Parts Used |
Herb |
|
Actions |
Astringent |
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Constituents |
Polyphenolics –gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, oxymethyl anthraquinone, polygonic acid, fuglanin. Flavonoids and anthocyanins –delphinidin, avicularin, glycosides based on quercetin Lignans, silicic acids, sugars, mucilage |
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Skin conditions |
Wounds, bruises, sores |
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Other Notes |
Once used in love divination |