254 



serves " a faint likeness to the top of the Flower-de-Luce, 

 which often appears on the crowns and sceptres in the mon- 

 uments of the first and second race of kings, and which 

 was most probably a composition of these three leaves. 

 Lewis the Second, engaged in the second crusade, distin- 

 guished himself, as was customary in those times, by a par- 

 ticular blazon, and took this figure for his coat of arms ; 

 and as the common people generally contracted the name 

 of Lewis into Luce, it is natural to imagine that this 

 flower was, by corruption, distinguished in process of 

 time by the name of Flower-de-Luce." Shakespeare ap- 

 pears to consider this flower as a Lily only by courtesy : 



" Lilies of all kinds 



The Fiower-de-Luce being one." 



{.Lamium was a celebrated sea-monster. The flowers of this genus are sup- 

 posed to resemble the grotesque figure of some beast.1 



Lamium rugosum, or Rough-leaved Lamium, produces 

 clusters of its curious white flowers all the season ; there 

 is a variety with light-purple flowers ; they are suitable 

 plants for rock-work. The odor of the plants is rather 

 unpleasant. Most of the species are coarse weeds. 



LANTANA. 



[One of the ancient names of the Viburnum, which this resembles a little in 

 foliage.] 



The species are rapid growers and free flowerers, and 

 readily increased by cuttings. They form small bushes, 

 with heads of flowers of brilliant changeable colors, and 

 of a peculiar aromatic odor. 



Lantana Camara, formerly L. aculeata. Changeable- 

 colored, is a native of the West Indies and South Ameri- 



