Superficial resemblance to : Sheepsbit but sheepsbit is a member of the Bellflower Family whereas Devilsbit Scabious a member of the Teasel Family and grows twice as high (up to 1 meter) and the flowers are not azure but a darker mauve/purple. Devils-bit Scabious is the only plant within the Genus Succisa.

The differences between Devilsbit Scabious and Field Scabious are:

• Field Scabious has bluish-lilac flowers whereas Devilsbit usually has dark blue-purple flowers (but sometimes pink)
• Field Scabious has flowers of un-equal size with larger petals towards the perimeter of the flower whereas Devilsbit has flowers nominally of equal size.
• Field Scabious has leaves which are markedly toothed but with few teeth, whereas with Devilsbit the leaves are mostly lanceolate and un-toothed (although some have small teeth near the end). Also, the lower leaves of Field Scabious are roundly lobed.

Distinguishing Feature : the lanceolate leaves, the downy stem up to 1m height, and the small deep-blue hemi-spherical flower head.

Apparently, the roots are very short compared to the 1m tallness of the plant, although quite how they know this without digging it up is beyond the Author. For this reason, it acquired its name: the Devil must have bitten off the root [they must have had wild imaginations in those days]. The few stem leaves are often toothed.

A blue dye can be extracted from this plant.

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