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SCANDIX, Shepherds Needle, 

 Or Venus-comb. 



The Characters are ; 



It hath a rofe-Jhaped v.?nhellated 

 Flower, conjtfting of federal Petals, 

 nvhich are ranged orbicularly, and 

 reft on the Empalement ; nvhich be- 

 comes a Fruit confijiing of tvjo Parts, 

 having tvoo Seeds, which refemhle a 

 Needle, when joined. 

 The Species are ; 



1. Scandix roftrato, vul- 

 garis. C. B. P. Common Shep- 

 herds Needle, with beaked Seeds. 



2. Scandix Cretica major. C. B. 

 P. Great Shepherds Needle ofCrete. 



3. Scandix Cretica minor. C.BP. 

 Smaller Shepherds Needle of Crete, 

 4. Scandix Orientalis,flore ma- 

 xima. Tourn. Cor. Eaftern Shep- 

 herds Needle, with a very large 

 Flower. 



The firft of thefe Plants grows 

 wild amongft Corn, in molt Parts of 

 England. The fecond and third 

 Sorts grow wild in the Ifland of 

 Candia; and the fourth Sort was 

 discovered by Dr. Toumefort in the 

 Levant. 



Thefe Plants are preferv'd by the 

 Curious in Botany, for the fake of 

 Variety ; but are feldom admitted 

 into other Gardens. The Fruit of 

 thefe Plants, having Beaks greatly 

 refemblingCranesBills, may be taken 

 for them at a fmall Diflance ; but 

 being ranged fomewhat like the 

 Teeth of a Comb, occafion'd the 

 Name given to it. 



They may be propagated by Seeds, 

 which mould be fown in Autumn, 

 foon after they are ripe, in the Place 

 where they are delign'd to remain, 

 which mould be in a fliady Situa- 

 tion ; and when the Plants are come 

 up, they will require no farther 

 Care, but to keep them clear from 

 Weed's. In May the Plants will 

 flower, and in the Beginning oijuiy 



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they will perfett their Seeds, and 

 foon after decay. But if their Seed: 

 are permitted to fcatter, the Plants 

 will come up without any manner of 

 Care, and become Weeds in the 

 Garden. 



SCILLA, Squills. 

 The Characters are; 



It hath a large, acrid, bulbous 

 Root, like an Onion : the Leaves are 

 broad : the Flowers are like thofe of 

 Omitbogalum, or the Starry Hya- 

 cinth : they grow in a long Spike, and 

 come out before the Leaves, 

 The Species are ; 



1. S c 1 l l a vulgaris, radice rubra. 

 C. B. P. Common red Squill. 



2. Scilla radice alba. C. B. P. 

 The white Squill. 



Thefe Plants are very common 

 upon the fandy Shores of Spain, and 

 the Levant, from whence theirRoots 

 are annually brought to England, for 

 medicinal Ufe : but altho' thefe 

 Roots are brought over chiefly for 

 medicinal Ufe, yet are they worthy 

 of being cultivated in every good 

 Garden, for the Beauty of their 

 flowers ; which make a very hand- 

 fome Appearance when they are 

 flrong Roots, 



The beft time to tranfplant thefe 

 Roots is in May, when their Leaves 

 are decay'd : and if the Roots are 

 brought from Abroad, if they can 

 be procur'd firm at that Seafon, or 

 a little after, they fhould be plant- 

 ed in Pots of light fandy Earth, and 

 placed in the Windows of theGreen- 

 houfe ; where, if they are blowing 

 Roots, they will flower the July 

 following. 



Thefe Plants mutt be preferv'd in 

 Shelter during the Winter - feafon ; 

 becaufe, if their Leaves are deflroy'd 

 by Froft in Winter, the Roots are 

 fubjeft to peri!h : but in Summer 

 they mould be expos'd to the open 

 Air, and in dry Weather muft be 

 frequently 



