TETRANDRIA MONOGYMA. Scabiosa. 35 



the length of the head. E. B. 877- C. 1. 10. D. 

 minor, sive Virga pastorls. G. E. 1168. 



Moist, shady placea. Near Tharne Park. Sb. Ditch, near Bays- 

 water. Bx. * * 



Bien. July. 



Siem three or four feet, erect, branched, verj rough, with ascend- 

 ing hooked prickles. Ls. opposite, egg-shaped, pointed, saw- 

 toothed. F'l. white, heads small, round, terminal, long-stalked. 

 Cal. common, is. spear-shaped. Cor. funnel-shaped, five lobed, 

 hairy. Anth. purple. 



SCABIO'SA. Scabious. 



S. succisa. DeviVs-bit Sc. Corolla in four equal seg- 

 ments. Heads nearly round. Stem leaves distantly- 

 toothed. E. B. 878. C. 3. 10. Morsus diaboli. G. 

 E. 726. 



Grassy, rather moist pastures. 



Per. July. 



Root abruptly bitten off at the lower end. Stem one to two feet, 

 erect, leafy, with three or more^. Ls. dark-green, hairy : root- 

 ones egg-shaped, bluntish, entire : uppermost ones smaller, spear- 

 shaped, entire. Fl. dark, purplish blue ; heads on long termi- 

 nal fl. stalks : the central one most considerable : hairs on the 

 main stem bent back, downwards, not elsewhere. Called 

 Devil" s-bit from a legend, that the Devil, says Ger. in envy of 

 the plant's virtues, bit off the end of the root : it has been 

 remarked, that after this bite, no virtues can be found remaining, 

 in the root, or elsewhere. Dried Is. to dye wool yellow or green. 

 Fl. sometimes white. The hairs on every part of the flower 

 stalks point upwards. Seed-crown chiefly of five bristles. 



S. a7'vensis. Field Sc. Corolla in four segments ; the 

 marginal flowers radiate. Leaves wing-cleft, cut. 

 Stem bristly. E. B. 659. C. 4. 13. S. major vul- 

 garis. G. E. 719. 



Cornfields, pastiores. 



Per. June. 



Stem about one yard, branched. Ls. root-ones numerous, spear- 

 shaped, more or less saw-toothed. Branches spreading, with a 

 solitary terminal flower. Fl. large, pale purple. Anth. flesh- 

 coloured. /Sect/ four cornered. 



The flowers held over tobacco smoke, changed to a beautiful 

 green ; the alkali of the smoke acting on them. Var. Fl. white. 

 Plant slightly astringent. Sheep and goats are said to eat this 

 herb, but its bitter and nauseous flavour is not agreeable to 

 domestic cattle. 



S. columbdricL Small Sc. Corolla in five unequal seg- 



D 2 



