Scabiosa comosa, commonly known as northeastern scabious, is a plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to southern Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, and Korea. The generic name Scabiosa derives from the Latin scabiosus (“mangy, rough, or itchy”), referring to the plant’s traditional use in folk medicine for treating scabies. The inflorescences appear as a dense capitulum, ranging in colour from pale blue to light purple. Although it looks like a single flower, the capitulum is actually made up of many small florets. The protruding styles resemble pins stuck in a cushion, which explains the alternative common name pincushion flower. Scabiosa comosa is the national symbol of Mongolia.
