Centaurea, native to Europe and naturalised to other regions
North Brewham Meadows is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the traditionally-managed species-rich meadows which support a neutral grassland community of the nationally rare Common Knapweed Crested Dog's-tail type.
The subcommunity also has many broad-leaved herbs including Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Betony (Stachys officinalis).
The garden contains special collections of Centaurea and related genera, native flora of Central Europe, holarctic forest vegetation, endangered wild plants, and rare weeds, as well as an alpine garden (5000 m²), wild rose collection, and pond (400 m²) with aquatic and swamp plants.
These traditionally-managed species-rich meadows support a neutral grassland community of the nationally rare Common Knapweed Crested Dog's-tail type.
Centaurea | Centaurea nigra | Centaurea scabiosa | Centaurea jacea | Centaurea maculosa | Mined leaf of ''Centaurea nigra | Leaf of ''Centaurea scabiosa | Centaurea montana | Centaurea iberica | Centaurea diffusa | Centaurea cineraria | A shoot of ''Centaurea nigra |
Andrena hattorfiana is an oligolectic species, feeding its young only on pollen of a few species of Dipsacaceae (Knautia arvensis, Scabiosa columbaria, Centaurea species).
According to a research by A. Pieroni, V. Janiak, C. M. Dürr, S. Lüdeke, E. Trachsel and M. Heinrich (2002) in the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy (The School of Pharmacy, University of London) "the antioxidant activity of the young whorls of Centaurea calcitrapa, both in the DPPH and in the lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, are very interesting and the species should be investigated phytochemically and biochemically focusing on these
Centaurea sadleriana (Pannonian knapweed) is a Pannonian sub-endemic plant, mostly found in the Pannonian Basin.
Introduced species of plants in the area are also a threat, including red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens), yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae).
The caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, mainly Dandelion (Taraxacum species), Plantains (Plantago species), Deadnettles (Lamium species), Yarrow (Achillea species), Blackberries (Rubus species), Nettles (Urtica species), Knapweeds (Centaurea species) and Strawberries (Fragaria species).
They feed on the flower nectar of various flowers, including Centaurea, Carduus and Knautia species.
turatii feed on Carlina vulgaris and Centaurea ambigua, while mature larvae of this subspecies mine the leaves of Cirsium arvense and Centaurea species.
The larvae feed on the leaves of various plants, including Plantago, Rumex, Fragaria, Stellaria, Lamium, Centaurea, Pulsatilla and Taraxacum species.
The subcommunity also has many broad-leaved herbs including Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Betony (Stachys officinalis).