74 CARYOPHYLLACE^. 



L. alpina [Alpme Lychnis). — A very dwarf species growing 

 in tufted masses about 6 inches high, bearing its beautiful pink 

 flowers in close heads. The leaves are lanceolate and not 

 viscid, and the petals are deeply cut into two. Best fitted for 

 culture on rockwork in sandy loam and peat. Flowers in 

 spring and summer. A very local native of Britain, being 

 found only on the top of Little Kilrannoch in Forfarshire, but 

 enjoys a wide distribution in central and northern Europe 

 and Asia, but only on the loftiest mountains of the former. 



L. Bungeana, syn. Agrostemma Bungeana {Biuiges Lychnis). 

 — A very handsome brilliant scarlet species. It grows about 

 18 inches or 2 feet high. The leaves are broadly lance-shaped, 

 slightly downy. The flowers are large, the petals spreading 

 and deeply cut on the margin : they appear in summer and last a 

 month or two. It likes well-drained yet moist soil, sandy but 

 rich. Native of north-west Asia. 



L. chalcedonica {Scarlet Lych?iis). — This is a stately and 

 beautiful species, well known in most gardens. It grows about 

 3 feet high, with broad lanceolate leaves opposite on the stems, 

 which make usually an abortive attempt at branching on 

 alternate sides of the stem. The flowers are brilliant scarlet, 

 in dense crowded heads, appearing in June, July, and August. 

 There is a white variety, which may be grown for variety's sake 

 in large collections, but is worthless as compared with the 

 scarlet. The doubles in both scarlet and white are the best ; 

 they are more striking and last much longer. It grows in any 

 good garden-soil, and all the better for biennial removal into a 

 fresh position. Native of Russia. 



L. coronaria, s}'n. Agrostemma coronaria(i?^j-^ Campio?i). — A 

 tall rather coarse plant, scarcely worth growing but in large 

 collections. It is erect in growth, 2 or 3 feet high, with downy 

 stems and leaves, and large reddish purple or crimson flowers 

 solitary on long stalks. There is a white variety and a 

 double crimson, the latter dwarfer and more compact than the 

 type, and a very handsome plant worthy of a place in even 

 select collections. Native of the south of Europe. Flowers 

 from early summer till autumn. 



L. flos-cuculi {Ragged Robin). — The double form of this 

 common plant is a charming ornament to the mixed border or 

 rockwork. It should be well known that this Lychnis is 

 abundantly native of our country, and adorns the moist banks 

 of streams and wet meadows with its pretty pink blossoms for 

 a great part of the summer. The double variety is worthy of 

 a place in any garden, both for the continuity of bloom and 

 the bright pleasing flowers so freely produced by it. The 



