AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



305 



Lychnis continued. 



Northern hemisphere without the tropics. The general 

 characters of this genus are those of Silene, from which 

 it differs in haying five styles ; calyx inflated, five-toothed, 

 ten-nerved ; capsule (see Fig. 483) septicidal, opening by 

 as many teeth as there are styles ; seeds with small 

 tubercles ; the petals also usually have an appendage at 



FIG. 484. LYCHNIS ALPINA, showing Habit and detached Portion 

 of Inflorescence. 



the base of the blade. All the species are of very easy 

 culture, thriving in almost any ordinary garden soil, but 

 succeeding best in a light, rich loam. Propagation is 

 readily effected in spring, by divisions, or by seeds. 

 All the species described below are perennials. 







FIG. 485. FLOWERING BRANCH OF LYCHNIS CHALCEDONICA. 



Ii. alplna (Alpine).* fl. pink, disposed in close, compact heads, 

 iin. in diameter ; petals narrow, deeply two-cleft ; calyx short. 

 Spring and summer. I. crowded, linear-lanceolate, slightly 



Lychnis continued. 



fringed ; lower ones tufted, h. 6in. Alps of Europe (Britain). 

 See Fig. 484. (B. M. 394.) 



Ii. chalcedonica (Chalcedonican).* /. scarlet, in dense corym- 

 bose clusters ; calyx round, clubbed, ribbed. Summer. I. lanceo- 

 late, slightly cordate at base, pilose, stem-clasping, h. lift, to 

 3.1ft. Russia, &c., 1593. A well-known and deservedly favourite 

 plant, of which there are several varieties, including double 

 white and double red. It thrives best in a sanely loam, enriched 

 with well-rotted manure. The single forms, white and red, may 

 be propagated by seed, which ripens very freely, and is practically 

 self-sowing. The double kinds should be divided early in spring. 

 See Fig. 485. (B. M. 257.) 



Fio. 486. FLOWERING BRANCH OF LYCHNIS CORONARIA. 



L. coronaria (crowned).* fl. red ; petals emarginate ; calyx sub- 

 campanulate, costate ; peduncles elongated, one-flowered. July. 

 I. broadly lanceolate, coriaceous, h. 3ft. South Europe, 1596. 

 See Fig. 486. (B. M. 24.) 



L. diurna (day-flowering).* Bachelors' Buttons ; Common Red 

 Lychnis ; Red Campion, fl. purplish-rose ; panicle terminal, 

 many-flowered ; calyx very hairy. Spring to autumn. I. oppo- 

 site, lower ones obovate-spathulate, upper ones oval-elliptical 

 h. 1ft. to 3ft. Northern hemisphere (Britain). (Sy. En. B. 211, 

 under name of Silene diurna.) A showy and pretty plant under 



2 R 



