SCABIOUS. 337 



SCABIOUS. 



SCABIOSA. 



DtPSACEJE. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



French, la scabieuse des Indes ,• regardez moi [look at me] ; fleur 

 de veuve [widow's flower]. — Italian, scabbiosa gentile; fior della ve- 

 dova. 



Indian or Sweet-scabious is chiefly valuable for its ex- 

 ceeding sweetness ; yet its colours are often extremely 

 rich. It is sometimes of a pale purple, sometimes so dark 

 as to be almost black, but its finest hue is a dark Mulberry 

 red. 



If Scabious is sown in March, it blows in the autumn ; 

 but it will produce stronger flowers if sown in May, placed 

 in the shade, and, when come up, removed into fresh earth ; 

 if well watered and shaded till it is again rooted, and always 

 kept moderately moist, it will flower in the beginning of 

 the summer ; and by this management may be preserved 

 in beauty from June till September. 



Though this is frequently called the Indian Scabious, 

 botanists are uncertain of its native country; hesitating 

 between Spain, Italy, and India. 



Many persons transplant Scabious a second time at 

 Michaelmas, for it is one of those plants which are thought 

 to be benefited by removal. 



