Mystery Scabious-like plant seen in S. W. Scotland

[Maggi Young]

Nice white form - we seldom see those.

[Roma]

Lots of Succisa pratensis in my ponies' fields.  No white ones but there are a few pinks.  They are not easy to photograph in focus with their long stems but here is a dwarf one in my garden.

[ChrisB]

Hoy, the plant I photographed looked just like the photos you put up.  And the plant was growing on a rocky outcrop facing the sea about 100metres above sea level. Very dry conditions, practically no soil.  Roma, the foliage in your photos don't look anything like The very small leaves I saw.

[ian mcdonald]

I wonder if there is some slight mis-understanding. As Roma says, her plants are Succisa pratensis, Devils Bit Scabious and the photo by Chris is Jasione montana, Sheeps Bit Scabious. There is also another scabious found in limestone areas, namely Scabiosa columbaria, small scabious. As already said, sheeps bit likes bare sandy areas,it is sometimes grazed by rabbits, making the whole plant no more than two or three inches in height when in flower. When in this state sheeps bit looks like a choice alpine.