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 | Scabious (Devils Bit) Other Names: Ofbit. Premorse Scabious.
Botanical Name: Scabiosa succisa
Family: N.O. Compositae |
Description: |
It is a slender, little-branched plant, with a hairy stem, few leaves, which are oblong and not cut into, and almost globular heads of deep purplish-blue flowers. It is to be found in bloom from July to October. The florets composing the head are all very much the same size, the outer ones being scarcely larger than the inner. The stamens of each floret, as in the other species of Scabious are a very conspicuous feature, the anthers being large and borne upon filaments or threads that are almost as long again as the corolla. The root is, when fully grown, nearly the thickness of a finger, and ends in so abrupt a way as almost to suggest that it had been bitten off, a peculiarity that has given it a place in legends. In the first year of the plant's existence the root is like a diminutive carrot or radish in shape; it then becomes woody and dies away, the upper part excepted; as it decays and falls away, the gnawed or broken look results. The portion left throws out numerous lateral roots, which compensate for the portion that has perished. The plant derives its common name from this peculiarity in the form of the root. Gerard tells us:
'The greater part of the root seemeth to be bitten away; old fantastick charmers report that the divel did bite it for envie, because it is an herbe that hath so many good vertues and it is so beneficial to mankinde.
The legend referred to by Gerard tells how the devil found it in Paradise, but envying the good it might do to the human race, bit away a part of the root to destroy the plant, in spite of which it still flourishes, but with a stumped root. The legend seems to have been very widely spread, for the plant bears this name, not only in England but also on the Continent. |
Habitat: |
| The Devil's Bit Scabious is almost as common a plant as the preceding species, but is more often to be found in open meadows and on heaths than in the hedgerow and the cornfield. |
Medicinal Usage: |
This plant is still used for its diaphoretic, demulcent and febrifuge properties, the whole herb being collected in September and dried.
It makes a useful tea for coughs, fevers and internal inflammation. The remedy is generally given in combination with others, the infusion being given in wineglassful doses at frequent intervals. It purifies the blood, taken inwardly, and used as a wash externally is a good remedy for cutaneous eruptions. The juice made into an ointment is effectual for the same purpose. The warm decoction has also been used as a wash to free the head from scurf, sores and dandruff.
Culpepper assigned it many uses, saying that the root boiled in wine and drunk was very powerful against the plague and all pestilential diseases, and fevers and poison and bites of venomous creatures, and that 'it helpeth also all that are inwardly bruised or outwardly by falls or blows, dissolving the clotted blood,' the herb or root bruised and outwardly applied, taking away black and blue marks on the skin. He considered 'the decoction of the herb very effectual as a gargle for swollen throat and tonsils, and that the root powdered and taken in drink expels worms.' The juice or distilled water of the herb was deemed a good remedy for green wounds or old sores, cleansing the body inwardly and freeing the skin from sores, scurf, pimples, freckles, etc. The dried root used also to be given in powder, its power of promoting sweat making it beneficial in fevers.
The SHEEP'S (or SHEEP'S-BIT) SCABIOUS (Jasione montana) is not a true Scabious, though at first sight its appearance is similar. It may be distinguished from a Scabious by its united anthers, and it differs from a Compound Flower (Compositae, to which the Scabious belongs) in having a two-celled capsule. It is a member of the Campanulaceae, and is the only British species. The whole plant, when bruised, has a strong and disagreeable smell. |
Ancient Lore: |
DEVIL'S BIT SCABIOSA SUCCISA
The root was longer, until the devil (as the friars say) bit away the rest of it for spite, envying its usefulness to mankind:for sure he was not troubled with any disease for which it is proper.
It grows about two feet (60 cm) high with narrow, smooth, dark green leaves nipped about the edges. At the end of each branch there is a round head of many flowers of a blueish-purple colour.
Where to find it: Dry meadows and heathland. Flowering time: Late summer.
Astrology: The herb is not ascribed a planet or astrological sign.
Medicinal virtues: The herb or the root (all that the devil hath left of it) being boiled in wine and drank, is very powerful against the plague and all pestilential diseases or fevers and poisons. It also helpeth all that are inwardly bruised by any casualty, or outwardly by falls or blows, dissolving the clotted blood. The herb or root beaten and outwardly applied taketh away the black and blue marks that remain in the skin.
The decoction of the herb, with Honey of Roses, helpeth inveterate tumours and swellings of the throat if used as a gargle. It helpeth also to procure women's courses and easeth all pains of the mother and to break wind therein. The powder of the root taken in drink driveth forth worms from the body.The juice or distilled water of the herb is effectual for wounds or old sores and cleanseth the body inwardly.
Modern uses: This herb is not currently available from herbalists, but was used until recent times for fevers and inflammatory disease. The infusion is soothing, helps to reduce temperature naturally and to excrete toxic sub- stances through the skin. It is made by adding i oz (28 g) of the dried herb to 1 Pt (568 ml) of boiling water. Doses of 2 fl oz (56 mi) can be taken, frequently to produce perspiration. |
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