ClASS tV. ORDER I.] SCABIOSAi 177 



GENUS III. SCABIO'SA. Linn. Scabious. 



Nat. Ord. Dipsa'ce.e. 



Gen. Char. Flowers ia heads, surrounded by a many-leaved involu- 

 cntm. Involueellum nearly cylindrical, with eight little excava- 

 tions, and a membranous plaited limb. Calyx with a limb con- 

 sisting of about five bristles. — Name from scaler, rough; ou 

 account of the roughness of the surface of the plants. 



1. S. succi'sa, Linn. (Fig. 220.) DeviVsbit Scabious. Heads of 

 flowers nearly globular ; corolla in four equal segments ; root- 

 leaves ovate, entire ; upper ones lanceolate, toothed. 



English Botany, t. 876. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 194. — LiDdley» 

 Synopsis, p. 139. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 64. 



Root with numerous branching fibres, abrupt at the extremity, as if 

 bitten oS". Stem erect, from one to three feet high, nearly simple, 

 hairs in the upper part pointing upwards, rougher below, with the hairs 

 pointing downwards. The lower or radical leaves ovate-entire, with 

 long footstalks ; those of the stem, or cauline ones, oblong-lanceolate, 

 unequally toothed, sessile or with short stalks, and united at the base, 

 all harsh and hairy. Floivers in roundish heads, blue, purplish, or 

 flesh-coloured, on long simple stalks, surrounded by an involucrum of 

 numerous lanceolate, hairy leaves ; receptacle hairy. Florets numerous, 

 equal, each accompanied with a lanceolate bractea. Corolla downy, 

 with four nearly equal segments. Fruit crowned by the persistent 

 calyx of about five darkish bristles, and enwrapped in the hairy tube 

 of the involueellum, the margin of which is membranous and toothed. 

 Stamens large, yellow or purplish. Pistil long, with a capitate s^ma. 



Habitat. — Meadows, pastures, and waste places ; frequent. 



Perennial; flowering from July to September. 



The origin of the vulgar name of this plant, we are informed by 

 ancient writers, is from the superstitious notion which they entertained, 

 that the root had been bitten off by the Devil ; for they supposed he 

 envied mankind the medicinal benefit they might derive from its vir- 

 tues. Hence alone, as Sir J. Smith observes, those virtues were pre- 

 sumed ; and in proportion as the Devil and his operations are little 

 thought of, they have fallen into oblivion in these our unbelieving days. 



2. S. columbaria, Linn. (Fig. 221.) small Scabious. Heads of 

 flowers somewhat convex ; corolla in five unequal segments ; root- 

 leaves ovate, notched or lyrate; those of the stem pinnatifid, with 

 narrow segments. 



English Botany, t. 1311.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 195.— Lindley 

 Synopsis, p. 140.— Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 64. 

 Root tapering, woody, fibrous. Stem erect, from one to two feet 

 VOL. I. 2 a 



