White flowered Knapweed
This photograph was taken by Field Club member Fiona Phipps. The plant was spotted by Fiona on a Clachtoll croft on 4th October 2011.
Common Knapweed, Centaurea nigra is a fairly widespread species in Assynt, but this is a very unusual aberration not often seen here. Instead of the usual pink flower this plant has white flower heads.
Common Knapweed is also know as ‘hard heads’ because children used to use the hard heads and stems like conkers. The seed heads are also much sought after as a food source by Twite, Linnet and Goldfinch.
A. Summers