200 DIPSACE^. [ScABiosA. 



SUB-GEN. I. Scabiosa proper. Receptacle elongate, bracts scaly. 

 Involucel 8-furrowed. Calyx-bristles 4-5, persistent. 



1. S. succi'sa, L. ; leaves entire, involucral bracts shorter than the 

 4-lobed subequal corollas. Devil' s-bit- Scabious. 



Pastures and open places, N. to Shetland ; ascends to 2,500 feet in the High- 

 lands ; Ireland ; Channel Islands ; fl. July-Oct. Rootstock short, abruptly 

 truncate. Stem 1-2 ft., branched above. Leaves glabrous or hairy ; radical 

 oblong or obovate, petioled ; cauline few, toothed. Heads -l| in. diam., 

 some $ only; peduncle with appressed hairs ; invol. bracts lanceolate, floral 

 linear-spathulate. Flowers blue-purple or white ; involucel villous, with 

 4 ovate teeth. Calyx-bristles 4, rigid. Corolla hairy, tube curved. 

 Anthers red-brown, opening in succession. Fruit oblong. DISTEIB. N. and 

 Mid. Europe (Arctic), Siberia, N. Africa. 



2. S. Golumba'ria, L. ; cauline leaves pinnatifid, invol. bracts longer 

 than the 5-lobed corollas, outer corollas larger very irregular. 



Dry pastures and banks, from Perth southd. ; ascends to 1,600 ft. in Yorks. ; 

 absent in W. Scotland ; Channel Islands ; fl. July-Sept. Rootstock tufted, 

 often woody. Stem 1-2 ft., simple or branched above, hairy. Leaves glab- 

 rous or pubescent, very variable ; radical narrow, petioled, entire or divided ; 

 cauline segments often cut. Heads 1-1| in. diam. ; peduncle slender ; invol. 

 bracts 1-seriate, slender, floral linear-spathulate. Flowers lilac or blue- 

 purple ; involucel subcampanulate, white, membranous, many-nerved. 

 Calyx-bristles 5, rigid, rough. Corolla pubescent, of inner flowers regular, 

 of outer rayed. Anthers yellow. Fruit narrow-obovoid, shortly beaked. 

 DISTHIB. Europe, Mediterranean region. 



SUB-GEN. II. Knau'tia, Coulter (gen.). Receptacle hemispheric, hairy. 

 Involucel 4-furrowed. Calyx-bristles 8-16, deciduous. 



3. S. arven'sis, L. ; invol. bracts shorter than the usually 4-lobed 

 corollas, of which the outer are much larger and 2-lipped. 



Dry banks and fields, N. to Orkney ; Ireland; Channel Islands ; fl. July-Sept. 

 Rootstock stout. Stem 2-5 ft., stout, very hairy, usually branched above. 

 Leaves variable, hairy ; radical oblong-lanceolate, entire serrate or crenate ; 

 cauline toothed lobed or pinnatifid. Heads 1-1^ in. diam., depressed ; 

 peduncle long, stout; invol. bracts broad, leafy, 2-seriate. Flowers pale 

 lilac or blue, sometimes 9 , with imperfect anthers ; involucels villous, 

 obscurely 4-toothed. Corolla hairy, inner redder, outer larger radiating. 

 Anthers yellow. Fruit ovoid, beaked ; calyx-limb deciduous. DISTRIB. 

 Europe (Arctic), Caucasus, Siberia, N. Africa. 



OllDER XLI. COMPOS'lT.ffi. 



Herbs (most British species). Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or whorled, 

 stipules 0. Inflorescence a centripetal head of many small flowers sessile 

 on the dilated top of the peduncle (receptacle], enclosed in an involucre of 



