scabious; a genus of the monogy- SCAENICA order, belonging to the tetrandria class of plants. The most remarkable species are, 1. The arvensis, or meadow-scarious, grows naturally in many places of Britain. It hath a strong, thick, fibrous root, sending out many branching stalks, which rise to the height of three feet; the lower leaves are sometimes almost entire, and at others they are cut into many segments almost to the midrib. The flowers are produced upon naked footstalks at the end of the branches; they are of a purple colour, and have a faint odour. 2. The succisa, or devil's bit, grows naturally in woods and moist places. This has a short tap-root, the end of which appears as if it was bitten or cut off, whence the plant has taken its name. The leaves are oval and spear-shaped, and smooth; the stalks are single, about two feet high, garnished with two leaves at each joint; they generally send out two short foot-stalks from their upper joint, standing opposite, which are terminated by purple flowers.—Both these have been recommended as aperient, sudorific, and expectorant; but the present practice has no dependence on them.