nada, gives us a representation and a
description of this plant also; according to him, its usual height in
that country is about nine inches; in the gardens here it nearly equals
the common Columbine, which it considerably resembles in the appearance
of its foliage, but differs in the form and colour of its flowers, the
horn of the nectary is straighter, and the blossom in some of its parts
inclines more to orange, which renders it highly ornamental.

It is a hardy perennial, and may be easily propagated by parting its
roots in autumn or spring; it may also be raised from seeds, which ripen
readily here; these are found to be a long time in vegetating, as are
others of this genus.

We have observed in some gardens, a Columbine of more humble growth than
the one here figured, called by the name of _canadensis_, and which most
probably is a variety of our plant, its blossoms spread wider, are of a
pale red colour without any orange, and hence being less beautiful, is,
of course, less worthy of culture.

[247]

SCABIOSA ATROPURPUREA. SWEET SCABIOUS.

_Class and Order._

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ communis polyphyllus; proprius duplex, superus. _Recept._
paleaceum nudum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SCABIOSA _atropurpurea_ corollulis quinquefidis radiantibus, foliis
dissectis, receptaculis florum subulatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed.
14._ _Murr. p. 145._ _Ait. Kew. v. i. p. 137._

SCABIOSA peregrina rubra capite oblongo. _Bauh. Pin. 270._

SCABIOSA vi. indica. _Clus. Hist. 2. p. 3._

Red flowered Indian Scabious. _Park. Parad. 324._

It is not a little singular that we should have no certain account of
what country this species of Scabious is a native; CLUSIUS who describes
and figures it accurately, relates that he received seeds of it from
Italy, under the name of _Indian Scabious_; he informs us also that he
received seeds of a Scabious from Spain, which the same year produced
flowers of a similar colour, but paler; PARKINSON says this plant is
verily thought to grow naturally in Spain and Italy; does he borrow this
idea from what CLUSIUS has advanced? he certainly gives no authority for
his supposition: LINNAEUS mentions it as a native of India with a note of
doubt; MILLER does the same, omitting any doubts about it; Mr. AITON
leaves its place of growth unsettled.

The Sweet Scabious has long and deservedly held a place as an ornamental
plant in o