_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 our gardens, the flowers are well adapted for nosegays, have a sweet musky smell, and are produced in great profusion from June to October. It is a hardy biennial, requiring yearly to be raised from seeds, these should be sown about the latter end of May, or beginning of June, on a shady border of fresh earth, thinning the plants as they advance to the distance of three or four inches; in autumn they should be removed into the border, where they are intended to flower, thus treated they will become good strong plants against winter, flower early the ensuing summer, and produce abundance of perfect seeds. The blossoms vary in colour, towards autumn the edge of the florets become paler. PARKINSON, deviating from his usual accuracy, describes the flowers without scent. _vid. Parad._ [Illustration: _No 247_] [Illustration: _No 248_] [248] VINCA ROSEA. MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE. _Class and Order._ PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character._ Contorta. _Folliculi_ 2 erecti. _Semina_ nuda. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ VINCA _rosea_ caule fructescente erecto, foliis ovato oblongis, petiolis basi bidentatis, floribus geminis sessilibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 252._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 296._ VINCA foliis oblongo-ovatis integerrimis, tubo floris longissimo, caule ramoso fruticoso. _Mill. Icon. 86._ The _Vinca rosea_ was first Cultivated in this country by Mr. PHILIP MILLER in 1757, he observes that it deserves a place in the stove as much as any of the exotic plants we have in England, because the flowers are very beautiful, and there is a constant succession of them all the summer.