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222 THE TEASEL FAMILY. [ Dipsacus. 
in most of the southern and central counties of England, as far north as 
York, but not in Ireland or Scotland. 7. summer,and autumn. 
ee 8 
II. SCABIOSA. SCABIOUS. 
Herbs, either annual or with a perennial stock, becoming shrubby in 
some exotic species, without prickles. Heads of flowers hemispherical or 
globular, with an involucre of small, green, not prickly bracts. Involucels 
various. Corolla 4- or 5-lobed, often oblique. Ovary and fruit crowned 
by the little cup-shaped calycine border, with 4, 5, or more teeth or 
bristles. | 
This, the principal genus of the family, belongs chiefly to the Mediter- 
ranean region, a few species extending over the rest of Europe and tem- 
perate Asia. Although not very numerous in species, it has been broken up 
into 4, 5, or 6 genera, the three British species being referred severally to 
Succisa, Scabiosa, and Trichera or Knautia. 
Leaves entire or nearly so. Florets 4-lobed, the outer ones 
scarcely larger than the others. 2 : : : : , 
Leaves toothed or divided. Outer florets of each head usually 
much larger and more oblique. 
Florets 5-lobed. Involuce} with a spreading, scarious border. 
Fruit crowned by 5 bristles : A : : . ° 
Florets 4-lobed. Involucel very short. Fruit crowned by 
minute teeth . ° ae alias : ‘ : ° . : 
1, S. succisa. 
2. S. Columbaria. 
3. S. arvensis. 
The annual sweet Scabious (S. atropurpurea) and some other exotic spe- 
cles are occasionally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 
1. S.succisa, Linn. (fig. 492). Blue Scabious, Devil’s-bit.—Root- 
stock short and thick, ending abruptly below as if it had been bitten off. 
Leaves mostly radical, stalked, ovate or oblong and entire, glabrous or with 
a few long hairs on the upper surface; those of the stem few and oblong, 
occasionally marked with 1 or 2 teeth. Stems 1 to 2 feet high, with 1 to 
5 heads of deep blue flowers on long peduncles. Bracts of the involucre 
lanceolate, in 2 or 3 rows, the outer ones about as long as the flowers, the 
inner ones passing gradually into the pointed scales of the receptacle. 
Florets all nearly alike, 4-lobed and but little oblique. Involucels tubular, 
angular, completely enclosing the ovary and fruit, bordered by very small, 
green teeth. Fruit crowned by the 4 bristles of the calyx, which scarcely 
project beyond the involucel. : : . 
In meadows, pastures, heaths, &c., throughout Europe and Russian 
Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. Sl. summer and 
autumn. 
2, S. Columbaria, Linn. (fig. 493). Small Scabious.—Stock peren- 
nial, tufted when old, and sometimes almost woody. Stems 1 to 2 feet high, 
including the long terminal peduncles, glabrous or slightly hoary. Leaves 
pinnate, the lower ones crowded, spreading, with an ovate or oblong ter- 
minal segment, and several smaller ones ; the stem-leaves few, with linear 
segments, entire or pinnatifid. Flowers of a pale purplish-blue. Involucres 
short. Scales of the receptacles small and linear. Florets 5-lobed, the 
outer ones of each head much larger and more oblique. Involucel enclos- 
ing the fruit to near the top, where it is contracted, and then expands into 
a scarious, sinuate, cup-shaped border, in the centre of which appears the 
summit of the fruit, crowned by the 5 bristles of the calyx. 7 
