Lesser Knapweed, Aciano negro

Description:

Perennial flowering herb in the Asteraceae family, that grows up to a metre in height. The leaves are up to 25 centimetres long, usually deeply lobed, and hairy. The lower leaves are stalked, whilst the upper ones are stalkless. The inflorescence contains a few flower heads, each a hemisphere of black or brown bristly phyllaries. The head bears many small bright purple flowers. The fruit is a tan, hairy achene 2 or 3 millimetres long, sometimes with a tiny, dark pappus. It flowers from July until September.

Habitat:

Prairy close to the sea coast

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D500. Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.; f/11; ISO Speed Rating: 640. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No Flash fired. DSC_3252