64 The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
18. PROLIFEROUS SCABIOUS. 
Plate 34. 
Character of the Species. Scabiofa prolifera. 
The Leaves are broad lanc’d ; the Stalk is proliferous. 
Plate 34. a b. 
This is a biennial, native of China and India, a low, but exceed- 
ingly fingular Plant, flowering in July. The Stalk is firm, hard, and 
brown, almoft woody at the bale. It does not exceed fix or feven 
inches in heiglnh, and a part even of that lies upon the ground j the 
bottom is brown with lome tinge of red ; the reft greenifh with 
white hairs ; thefe are rough and rugged, and give it the fame harfh- 
nefs to the touch, that we find in the common Scabious of our corn 
fields. 
The Leaves are of a pale, and but unpleafing green. The Flowers 
are of a very pale yellow: the outer ranges of thefe in every Head are fo 
much larger, and more divided than the reft, that in fome views, one 
would fuppofe the whole Head only a fingle Flower. 
This is not conftant or certain in this Plant, at leaft not in degree ; 
and it obtains more or lefs in many other of the Scabious kinds. 
When this grows in a dry foil, and fully expofed to the fun, the outer 
Flowers do not exceed the inner ones, more than in the common Sca- 
bious ; but they are always much more irregularly divided ; on the other 
hand, Plants from the fame parcel of Seeds, raifed in a moift place, 
under fome degree of fhade, have fpread out here their outer Flowers 
to a degree much exceeding what is fhewn in this figure. The fame 
fituation and accidents will wonderfully alter the Flowers, efpecially the 
outer ones of many of the common kinds ; and I have feen fuch dif- 
ference between the green-houfe Plants, and thofe of the open air in the 
fame fpecies, as would make fome think the objedts too vague for de- 
feription, or for figure ; moderation in our accounts and reprefen tations 
is the rule of being right ; and there always remain parts enough 
that are unchangeable to afeertain the character. 
19. entir e 
