322 FLORA HISTORICA. 



SCABIOUS. Scahiosa, 



Natural Order AggregatcB Dipsacea : a Genus of the 

 Tetrandria Monogynia Class. 



This plant derives its name from Scabies, because 

 the common sort is said to cure this and other 

 cutaneous complaints ; and on this account it is 

 fabled that the devil having found the plant in 

 Paradise, and envying the good this herb might 

 do to the human race, bit away a part of the root 

 in order to destroy the plant, but which still con- 

 tinues to flourish with a stumped root, and hence 

 one of the species is called DeviPs Bit. 



The Indian or Sweet Scabious, Scabiics Atro- 

 purpurea, is called by the Italians Fior della Ve- 

 dova, and by the French Fleur de Veuve, both of 

 which means the Widow's Flower, and from 

 hence it is made to express, in floral language, 

 " I have lost all." 



We learn from Parkinson that this species of 

 Scabious was common in our gardens previous 

 to 1629; and this author mentions his doubts 

 about its Indian origin, as he tells us, that it 

 was then growing spontaneously in Spain and 



