ICG FLORA HISTORICA. 



Dioscorides write Aux^^^, induces us to tliink that 

 it was originally a plant of more eastern nations ; 

 and Pliny speaks of it as an Asiatic plant. 



It appears to have been brought to this country 

 from Constantinople, since Gerard, who tells us 

 that it was common in English gardens in 1596, 

 calls it " Flower of Constantinople, and Campion 

 of Constantinople/* He also calls it Lychnis 

 Chalcedonica, which seems to affirm it to be a na- 

 tive of Asia Minor; yet in some of our most 

 esteemed botanical works it is placed as a Russian 

 plant, which so ill accords with its specific name. 

 Ulyssus Aldrovandus, an Italian, who visited many 

 countries in search of plants, and who wrote on na- 

 tural history prior to Gerard, calls it Flos CreticuSy 

 Flower of Candia. 



Some etymologists conjecture, that the name of 

 Lychnis is derived from Xvyjo^, lucerna, a lamp, 

 either on account of the flame-colour of the petals, 

 or because the down of the leaves was sometimes 

 used to make wicks for lamps. 



It is more than probable that this species of 

 Lychnis was introduced into Europe during the 

 crusades, since we find so many of the Continental 

 languages agree in calling it the Cross of Jerusa- 

 lem, the French Croix de Jerusalem, the Spaniards 

 Cruces de Jerusalem, the Italians Croce di Cava- 

 lieriy the Germans Hierosolymoruin fios, but the 



