You may have seen today's spotlight species and mistaken it for a thistle, as the flowerheads looks a little similar. However, unlike most thistles, our focus for today - Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) - has no prickles anywhere on the plant. Another feature that distinguishes it from thistles is the lack of the obvious feathery 'pappus' attached to the seeds which thistles (along with dandelions and many other plants in the Daisy family) have. This is a common plant in tall grassland, roadside verges and woodland edges, and although it is sometimes considered a weed by farmers it is very important food source for many insects and some birds such as Goldfinches. Studies have shown that it is one of the most prolific producers of nectar of our perennial meadow plants in the UK. This feature is utilised by Honey-bees, at least 8 common species of butterfly (including Day 19's Spotlight Species Red Admiral, as well as Small Copper, Small Heath and Meadow Brown), and the Lime-speck Pug moth (so named because when resting it looks like a bird dropping).
The name knapweed apparently comes from a Middle English word 'knap' meaning 'a knob, bunch or tuft' and seems to refer to the hard little blackish heads which are particularly noticeable after the purple petals have dropped or shrivelled up. This has also given rise to two alternative names, Hardheads and Black Knapweed.
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