Common name:
Cornflower
Family:
Scientific name:
Centaurea cyanus
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered areas of England and Wales, mostly in the south
Height:
Up to 80 cm
Habitat:
Fields, grassland, disturbed ground
Flowers:
Flowerheads are up to 3 cm in diameter, solitary, on top of lightly-grooved, cottony stems. The involucre is enclosed by several rows of green to purplish phyllaries, whose margins are lined with light or dark brown teeth. Florets are purple to blue, and notably larger around the outer edge than at the centre
Leaves:
Up to 20 cm long, crossed by parallel veins, with a covering of cottony hairs. Upper leaves are linear to narrowly lanceolate and, sessile, while lower leaves are stalked, and pinnately lobed
Season:
June to August
Rarity:
★★★★★
