The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
55 
This is an annual, native of Tranfyl vania ; a tall and very hand- 
fome Plant, flowering through all the middle part of Summer ; and 
very worthy a place in gardens. The Stalk is firm, eredt, thick jointed, 
and above a yard high. The Leaves are of a faint, but delicate green ; 
and are a little hairy. The Flowers are of a very fine rofe colour. 
They ftand much more regularly on the top of the Plant, than in many 
of the other kinds ; and this adds a great deal to their beauty. 
5. SNOWY SCABIOUS. 
Plate 26. Fig. 2. 
Character of the Species. Scabiofa Leucantliema. 
The Leaves are irregularly pinnatifid : The Flowers are 
globular and compadt. 
Fig. 2. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of the South of France j a Plant of very 
Angular afpedt, flowering in July and Auguft. The Stalk is brown, 
and woody at the bafe ; the upper part is pale and tender j and its 
Branches fall wildly, not with that regularity we fee in many of the 
Scabious’s. The Leaves are of a whitifh green ; and have a glofly fur- 
face. The Flowers are fnow white. 
It is Angular that this Plant, evidently the fame fpecies, is found 
at the Cape of Good Hope, where its Stalk is much more woody, 
and its Leaves lofe much of their divifion. Thefe variations, though 
they feem great, yet are reduced to nothing, when we examine into 
their caufes. The Cape Plants have often woody Stems, becaufe the 
force of winter does not deftroy them ; and even with us, a high or 
low ground, give more or lefs divifions to the Leaves. The firfl is 
an article of confequence in the hifiory of Plants, becaufe unlefs un- 
derftood, many herbaceous Plants will be confounded with Shrubs ; 
but the caufe is familiarized to us by good obfervation here. Lafl: win- 
ter being a very mild one, many of the Mufk Scabioufes lived through 
it ; and have now woody Stems. 
6 . FORKED 
