Bitten by the Devil

Over at Haddo House Country Park  the Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis are in full flower and looking most prolific this year!

The name Scabious comes from the fact that the plant was  once used to treat skin sores, including those caused by bubonic plague, but more particularly by scabies, an infestation of the skin by parasitic mites. The word scabies comes from the Latin scabere meaning "to scratch". The plant is till used by herbalists in the treatment of eczema.

The Devil's-bit part of the name comes from the fact that the plant has a very short, black root. Folk-lore has it that the Devil, angry at the plant's ability to cure skin ailments, bit off its root in spite. 

Extra! On the way home we were a bit concerned when it appeared that The Donald might have decided to nuke the village, presumably as a result of the nasty things that we have said about him destroying a Site of Special Scientific Importance when he built his golf course on it.