Birth flower for August 14
Pincushion flower
Meaning: grace, a tender heart
Its Japanese name, matsumushi-so, is said to come from blooming when bell crickets sing, or from its seed head looking like a pilgrim's small gong. The genus name Scabiosa comes from the Latin for scabies, since it was once used for skin complaints. The stamens poking out of the domed center look like pins in a cushion, hence pincushion flower.