Scabiosa
Scabiosa, a genus of about 100 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Scabiosas are bushy plants that grow from slightly less than one foot (30 cm) up to about four feet (120 cm) in height. Their ball-shaped flower heads are up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide. The long, thin stamens projecting outward from the flower head give it the appearance of a pincushion. Scabiosas are also known as pincushion flowers and mourning brides.
Because they are colorful and easily grown, scabiosas are popular garden flowers. They bloom in white and yellow and in shades of red, blue, and lavender. A popular garden species is the sweet scabiosa.
Scabiosas belong to the teasel family, Dipsacaceae. The sweet scabiosa is Scabiosa atropurpurea.