SWISS FLOWERS. 29 



the Bladder-Campion, with others. But S. acaulis (Fig. 22) 

 is very different in appearance from these, as its small 

 flowers do not rise above an inch from the ground, and 

 sometimes have no stem at all ; hence its name. Indeed, the 

 plant has the appearance of pink-flowered moss — if such a 

 thing with this kind of flower were possible — as its rather 

 wiry leaves are matted together in short dense clusters or 

 masses, often covering the sides of the mountains with 

 large patches. Stamens ten, petals five. The seeds are pro- 

 duced freely, and they would probably grow easily. The 

 flower has the great drawback of withering very soon after 

 being gathered. It must not be confounded with Andro- 

 sace Heerii, to which it has some resemblance, and which is 

 even more beautiful. Grassy slopes of the Alps. The pink 

 bunches of S. Armeria look rather like Saponaria ocy- 

 moides, and grow in the same situations. 



23. Lychnis. 



(PLATE XIV.) 



Of the same family as our Ragged Robin and Corn- 

 Cockle, Lychnis Alpina (Fig. 23) far exceeds them in 

 beauty. It is known in only one or two places in England 

 and Scotland, but is not uncommon on the high mountain- 



