43 THALAMIFLOR^ 



8. S. noctiflora (Night-flowering Catchfly). Stem erect, 1-2 feet 

 high, repeatedly forked ; calyx with long teeth, oblong when in 

 fruit, io-ribbed ; plant hairy, viscid. The flowers are larger than 

 the last, pale pink, and expand about sunset ; they close early in 

 the morning, and are very fragrant during the night. Sandy, 

 gravelly fields, not common. Fl. July. Annual. 



4. Lychnis (Campion) 



1. L. Flos-Cucidi (Ragged Robin). Petals deeply 4-cleft, the 

 two centre lobes of each longer than the outer, crowned ; capsule 

 5-toothed ; leaves narrow ; flowers in a loose panicle. A pretty 

 and well-known plant, with a purplish green, angular stem, the lower 

 part of which is roughish with short bristly hairs, the upper parts 

 slightly viscid ; flowers rose-coloured, with deeply-cut, narrow seg- 

 ments. Common in moist meadows and marshy places. Fl. when 

 the cuckoo is in full song, hence its Latin name, Flos-Cucidi. 

 Perennial. 



2. L. vespertina (Evening Campion). Height 1-2 feet ; stems 

 branched ; plant slightly hairy and viscid ; leaves oblong, tapering ; 

 stamens and pistils on different plants ; petals 2-cleft half-way 

 down, crowned ; capsule conical, 10-toothed, the teeth erect ; 

 flowers large, white, or sometimes pink, loosely panicled, opening 

 in the evening, when they are fragrant. Waste places, common. 

 Fl. all the summer. Perennial. 



3. L. diurna (Red Robin or Campion). Stamens and pistils on 

 different plants ; petals 2-cleft half-way down, crowned ; capsule 

 nearly globose, 10-toothed, the teeth spreading or recurved ; leaves 

 oblong, tapering, downy, as well as the stem. An ornamental 

 hedge plant, 2-3 feet high, with rose-coloured flowers. Common. 

 Fl. all the summer. Perennial. 



4. L. Githago or A grostemma Githago (Corn Cockle). Calyx much 

 longer than the corolla ; sepals undivided, destitute of a crown. A 

 common cornfield weed, with an upright downy stem, and large, 

 handsome, purple-red flowers ; seeds large, and therefore troublesome 

 when they become mixed with the corn during threshing. Fl. June, 

 July. Annual. 



5. L. Viscaria (Red German Catchfly). Stems 6-12 inches high, 

 glabrous, viscid above ; flowers in compact heads, red ; petals 

 slightly notched ; capsules 5-celled. Very rare, confined to a few 

 places in Scotland and North Wales. Fl. summer. Perennial. 



6. L. Alpina (Red Alpine Campion). A much smaller species, 

 stems not more than 6 inches high, not viscid ; flowers red. Confined 

 to a few mountain summits in Scotland and the north of England. 

 Fl. summer. 



