48 Thi VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
199 ENTIRE LEAV’D STARRY SCABIOUS. 
Plate 35. Fig. 1 
-Charaéter of the Species. | | Scabiofa Cretica. 
The Leaves are lanc’d and undivided ; the Seeds have flarry crowns. 
Fig. 1. ab. 
Tuts is a Perennial, native of Crete; and other of the Greek Iflands: a Plant of very 
agreeable afpect, that bears the free air with us perfectly well ; and flowers as gaily as if 
on its native land, in July and Augutft. 
_ Ir grows to two feet and a half high; the Stem is woody at the sa and there 
of a brownifh hue; higher up it is tender, and of a pale grey. The Leaves are of a 
ereyifh or whitifh green ; they are naturally quite entire, and even at the edge ; but fome- 
times where the Plant has. very luxuriant nourifhment, they are wavy, and in a manner 
indented. The Flowers are of a pale and delicate crimfon: they vary much in fize, ac 
cording to the feafon, or to the degree of the culture they receive, as is the cafe in 
many of the other Scabioufes. And in general, when we are largeft they are panels 
and when fmalleft, of the ftrongeft colour. 
- Tue Flowers are not the only Seadudion af this Plant, for which it is, and iekevcs | : 
to be efteemed in gardens ; they are handfome enough, and the fucceffion of them is © 
very lafting ; but the Heads of Seeds that follow, have a ftriking afpect; and to thofe 
who efteem fingularity as beauty, they cannot but be very pleafing ; they are oval, and _ 
crown d with a dry fhining membranaceous cover, and five ftarry threads. 
Tus kind of ornament about the Seed, has led many to make a divifion among the 
Species of this Genus, and to range fuch as have it alone, under the diftiné name — 
Afterocephali ; but nature denies the exact limits between thefe and the common kinds ; 
the afcent toward this peculiar ftructure, is by fo light degrees, that none can fay where 
it is perfe&t; therefore the diftinction is omitted, not only here, but by the moft cor- 
rect authors befide; for where the point of difference is not determinate, we confound 
inftead of diftinguifhing when names are multiplied, and differences eftablifhed. 
368 PAL RST INE SCA BI O'U:S: 
Piste. oe. Fig.-2. 
Charaéter of the Species. ~ Scabiofa Palzftina, 
The Flowers have ee Segments Giccad out and cut in threes at the 
point. The upper Leaves have a pinnatifid bafe. 
Fi ig, 2.0 5, 
Tuis is a Biennial, native of Paleftine: a pretty Plant of a foot high; flowering in 
June. The Stalk is of a pale green ; the Leaves are of a frefh ftrong green ; the Flowers 
are white. : 
2. DECUM- 
: — = 
