Additional notes (click to expand)

Commemorative

This honours the brothers Knaut: Christof Knaut (also Knauth, 1638–94) and his brother Christian Knaut (1654–1716). Christof Knauth was a German doctor, botanist, professor at Halle, and author of Enumeratio plantarum circa halam Saxonum ... sponte provenientium (1687). His brother Christian – author of Methodus plantarum genuina (1716), a pre-Linnaean classification of flowering plants – was also a botanist, physician and librarian. Christian studied medicine at the University of Leipzig and gained his doctorate from the University of Jena in 1682. He worked as the physician and librarian to Prince Manuel Lebrecht of Anhalt-Köthen. Christof was 16 years older than Christian, and some authors (eg Thomas, 1901) state that they were father and son. In the absence of birth certificates, I prefer to accept the fraternal relationship than to have Christian conceived when Christof was 15 years old.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry. (2012). Doctors in the Medicinal Garden. Plants named after physicians. Royal College of Physicians. link

Medicinal

In traditional herbal medicine the whole plant is astringent and mildly diuretic. An infusion is used internally as a blood purifier and externally for treating cuts, burns and bruises. The fresh or dried flowering plant can be used, with or without the roots. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used as a blood purifier and as a treatment for eczema and other skin disorders.
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Knautia+arvensis

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan
  • Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Central European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Northwest European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Finland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Iceland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Knautia arvensis (L.) Coult.

Family: CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Genus: Knautia
Species: arvensis (L.) Coult.
Common names: Field Scabious
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Scabiosa
Distribution summary: Europe, Asia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Grassy sites: meadows, pastures, roadsides & gardens
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plane tree bed (P)
Flowering months: July, August, September
Reason for growing: Commemorative, medicinal


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