Succisa pratensis aka Premorse

Taxonomy

Succisa pratensis, also known as devil's-bit or devil's-bit scabious, is a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. It grows up to 1m tall and has a basal rosette of simple or distantly-toothed, lanceolate leaves. This plant differs from other similar species in that it has four-lobed flowers, whereas small scabious and field scabious have five lobes and hence it has been placed in a separate genus in the same family. It also grows on damper ground. The bluish to violet (occasionally pink) flowers are borne in tight compound flower heads or capitula, and the flowering period in the British Isles is from June until October. Male and female flowers are produced on different flower heads (gynodioecious), the female flower heads being smaller. It should be noted that this plant might be poisonous. If there are too many Succisa pratensis weeds to remove manually or with a hoe, you can use a weed killer made of chemicals and spray the chemical directly on each weed. It's not environment-friendly, so use only if it is absolutely necessary. Some, like Ortho's Weed-B-Gon, kill many weeds including dandelions, crabgrass, and clover, and this product does not damage the lawn. Or you can purchase the concentrate, mix it with water, then spray where needed. After spraying, you can see results in a day or so. After they die, you'll have to remove them by hand, which is difficult, but much easier than pulling a live weed. A downside of these chemicals is that they may not kill the weeds entirely, as the chemical only kills what it touches, and if it was not sprayed sufficiently, the weed may not die, so make sure to cover all unwanted plants sufficiently. Devilsbit, on the other hand, is a super rare houseplant that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in abundant sunlight and should be less than 3 feet from a window.

Common names

Premorse, Devilsbit, Devil's Bit

How to care for Premorse

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Premorse due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Premorse should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lighting

Premorse thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Devil's Bit.

Toxicity

The toxicity level of this plant has not been officially confirmed by Ploi. If there is a possibility of ingestion of plant material with an uncertain toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Region of origin

Premorse’s native range is Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway to N. Africa, Siberia and the Caucasus.


More info:
Wikipedia