Genus LYONIA, JVutt. 



Ericacese. Decandria Monogynia. 



S^st. Nat. Si/st. Lin. 



Synonymes. 



Lyonia, Andromeda, Of Authors. 



Derivations. This genus was named Lyonia, in commemoration of Mr. John Lyon, an indefatigable English collector of 

 North American plants, who fell a victim to a dangerous epidemic amidst those savage and romantic mountains which had so 

 often been the theatre of his labours. Andromeda was the name of the daughter of Cephalus, king of Ethiopia. She wm tied 

 naked to a rock, and exposed to be devoured by a sea-monster to appease the wrath of Neptune ; but was delivered by Perseus, 

 who afterwards married her, and they had many children. The following reasons for the application of the name of Andromeda 

 to this genus of plants are extracted from Linnffius' " Lachesis Lapponica" ; "Andromeda polifolia," says Linnaeus, " was now 

 (June 12,) in its highest beauty, decorating the marshy grounds in a most agreeable manner. The flowers are quite blood-red 

 before they expand ; but, when full grown, the corolla is of a flesh-colour. Scarcely any painter's art can so happily imitate the 

 beauty of a fine female complexion; still less could any artificial colour upon the face itself l)ear a comparison with this lovely 

 blossom. As I contemplated it, I could not help thinking of Andromeda, as described by the poets: and the more I meditated 

 upon their descriptions, the more applicable they seemed to the little plant before me ; so that, if these writers had it in view, 

 they could scarcely have contrived a more apposite fable. Andromeda is represented by them as a virgin of most exquisite and 

 unrivalled charms; but these charms remain in perfection only so long as she retains her virgin purity, which is also appli- 

 cable to the plant now preparing to celebrate its nuptials. This plant is always fixed on some little turfy hillock in the midst 

 of the swamps, as Andromeda herself was chained to a rock in the sea, which bathed her feel, as the fresh water does the 

 roots of this plant. Dragons and venomous serpents surrounded her, as toads and other reptiles frequent the abode of her vege- 

 table resembler, and, when they pair in the spring, throw mud and water over its leaves and branches. As the distressed virgin 

 cast down her blushing face through excessive affliction, so does this rosy-coloured flower hang its head, growing paler and paleif 

 till it withers away. Hence, as this plant forms a new genus, I have chosen for it the name of Andromeda." Our great mas- 

 ter has drawn this fanciful analogy still further in his "Flora Lapponica." "At length," says he, "comes Perseus, in tho 

 shape of summer, dries up the surrounding water, and destroys the monsters, rendering the damsel a fruitful mother, who then 

 carries her head (the capsule) erect." 



Generic Characters. Calyx 5-parted. Carolla ovate or tubular, with a contracted, 5-toothed mouth. Fil- 

 aments short, flat, downy. Anthers with membranous cells that open lengthw^ise. Style 5-comered. 

 Stigma obtuse. Capsule 5-cornered. Flowers for the most part terminal, disposed in racemose pani- 

 cles. Loudon, Arboretum, 



I YONIA embraces evergreen and deciduous shrubs, and also one 

 tree, natives of North America, and bearing the common charac- 

 ter of the plants of the order Ericaceae, both in respect to beauty, 

 soil, situation, propagation, and culture. All the species which 

 compose this family have hair-like roots, and require a peat soil, 

 or a soil of a close, cohesive nature, but which is yet susceptible 

 of being readily penetrated by their finest fibrils. They all may readily be prop- 

 agated from seeds, by cuttings, or by layers. 



