The VEGETABLE. SYSTEM. 
19. ENTIRE LEAV’D STARRY SCABIOUS. 
Plate 35. 
Chara&er of the Species. Scabiofa cretica. 
The Leaves are lanc’d and undivided; the Seeds have harry 
crowns. 
Fig. I. ab. 
This is a perennial, native of Crete; and other of the Greek 
Jflands : 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 Auguft. 
It grows to two feet and a half high ; the Stem is woody at the 
bottom, and there of a brownifh hue ; higher up it is tender, and of 
a pale grey. The Leaves are of a greyifh or whitifh green j they are 
naturally quite entire, and even at the edge ; but fometimes 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, according to the feafon, or to the degree of 
the culture they receive, as is the cafe in many of the other Scabious’s. 
And in general, when they are larged they are paled; and when 
fmalleft, of the ftronged colour. 
The Flowers are not the only production of this Plant, for which it 
is, and deferves to be efteemed in gardens ; they are handfome enough, 
and the fucceffion of them is very lading ; but the Heads of Seeds that 
follow, have a ftriking afpeCtj and to thofe who efteem Angularity as 
beauty, they cannot but be very pleaflng ; they are oval, and crown’d 
with a dry finning membranaceous cover, with five flarry threads. 
This kind of ornament about the Seed, has led man^ to make a di- 
vifion among the fpecies of this Genus, and to range iuch as have it 
alone, under the didinCt name Aderocephali; but nature denies the exaCt 
limits between thele and the common kinds : the afcent toward this pe- 
culiar AruCture, is by fo light degrees, that none can fay where it is per- 
fect ; therefore the diflinCtion is omitted, not only here, but by the mod 
correct authors befide : for where the point of difference is not deter- 
I minate. 
