246 DipsACE^. [Scabiosa. 



distinct nearly equal. Fruit upon a short stalk, 4-angled, with 4 

 pores or depressions." — B7: Fl. 



1. K. arvensis, Coult. Field Knautia. Vect. Gipsy or Egyp- 

 tian Rose. " Heads of many flowers, fruit crowned with very 

 minute teeth, calyx with 8 — 16 somewhat awned cilia." — Br. Fl. 

 p. 196. Scabiosa, L. : E. B. t. 659. 



;8. Flowers white. 



y. Smooth, all the leaves undivided. 



S. Florets of the centre equal to those of the circumference. 



In dry meadows, pastures, cornfields, waste ground, and by waysides ; very 

 common. Fl. June — August. 2(. 



/3. Cornfield near Wallow. 



y. Isle of Wight, E. K., Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. i. p. 83. 



S. Banks at Venlnor, and cornfields near St. Lawrence, W. Wilson Saunders, 

 Esq. I.!! 



III. Scabiosa, Linn. Scabious. 



" Receptacle scaly. Involucel membranaceous or minute. 

 Calyx of about 5 bristles. Stamens distinct, nearly equal. Fruit 

 with 8 depressions." — Br. Fl. 



1. S. succisa, L. Devil's-bit Scabious. " Segments of corolla 

 4 nearly equal, fruit' angled with the depressions reaching nearly 

 to the base and a very short crown, calyx-bristles conniving, cau- 

 line leaves dentate, heads of flowers nearly globose, leaves of the 

 involucre in 2—3 rows."— Br. Fl. p. 195. E. B. t. 878. 



In rather moist meadows, pastures, heathy places and open grassy woods ; 

 abundantly. Fl. August — October. H.. 



Plentiful in Quarr copse, and most other woods near Ryde. 



The first appearance of this plant in flower is the earliest liut surest token that, 

 whilst Nature wears yet an aspect green and fair, the noontide prime of the year 

 has departed, and that ere long the " sere and yellow leaf" will give true but 

 timely warning of the " dim declining days" thai must succeed its fall. Faithful 

 to the advent of this silent monitor, the great green locust {Acrida viridissima) 

 begins to herald the approach of autumn with his shrill note of preparation, feebly 

 at first and solitary ; till, later, every hedge is resonant the livelong night with the 

 ceaseless responsive chirp of these invisible choristers. 



2. S. Columbaria, L. Small Scabious. " Corollas usually 5- 

 cleft radiating, fruit subcylindrical with the depressions reaching 

 to the base, limb of the involucel membranaceous entire patent 

 about 20-nerved half the length of the fruit, stem hairy, radical 

 leaves ovate-crenate or Ij'rate, those of the stem pinnatifid with 

 linear segments."— Br. Fl. p. 195. E. B. t. 1311. 



On dry calcareous or gravelly banks and pastures, also on the chalky downs in 

 several places. Fl. June — Auu;ust. If. 



F. Med. — Frequent on the chalk about Ventnor, Bonchurch, Apptildurcombe, 

 &c. On sloping banks above the Culver cliflF, Sandown bay. Chalk-pit amongst 

 the cornfields above Sandown bay. [On Ashey down, in plenty, Dr. Bell-Salter, 

 Edrs.] 



W. Med. — On chalky slopes of the valley just beyond Apes-down farm, towards 

 Rowledge, which are quite blue with this species and S. succisa. About Caris- 



