72 



L Y M N & A M A C L U K A. 



has been discovered .this year (IbtfO) in Sherwood 

 Forest, on the 1st of May, on the trunks of old trees 

 running very quickly, by Mr. P. Desvignes. The 

 antennae in this genus are compressed and serrated, 

 but in the typical genus Lymexylon they are simple. 

 Of this genus the best known species is L. navale, a 

 single specimen of which has been taken in Windsor 

 Forest by Mr. H. Griesbach. On the continent, 

 however, this species is very abundant in the oak 

 forests, and occasionally commits very great damage 

 in the dock-yards of Sweden and France. The 

 writer hereof possesses an undescrihed species of this 

 genus from New Holland, purchased from the collec- 

 tion of Mr. Haworth. 



LYMN^EA (Linnaeus, Cuvier). This well-known 

 mollusc is abundantly found in our own rivers and 

 ponds, particularly the latter, as it seems to prefer 

 stagnant water to the running stream. It is not un- 

 freqtiently two inches in length. The form of the 

 shell is oval, turreted, or conical ; substance thin, 

 smooth, and the spire pointed, an ovate aperture ex- 

 tending widely from the front to the back; the edges 

 disunited, the right side always sharp, the left with a 

 very oblique plait or fold at the point of junction, 

 between the columella and the remaining portion of 

 the edge. The uniform characters of this genus 



J.yuinxa stagnalis. 



render it difficult to distinguish the species, but fif- 

 teen or sixteen have been described as inhabiting 

 Europe and America ; two have been mentioned as 

 natives of India : Africa and South America pos- 

 sess countless species, which remain unknown, from 

 being too common to excite the attention of tra 

 vellers ;t circumstance constantly to be deplored 

 in every branch of nature's productions; for were the 

 same industry exercised in collecting the least attrac- 

 tive that now exists in obtaining the most beautiful, 

 our knowledge of natural history would become im- 

 mensely enriched, and many connecting links in the 

 genera and species more satisfactorily accounted for. 

 A naturalist, giving instructions to a young tra- 

 veller in South America, requested he would collect 

 for him every thing ugly in preference to the beautiful. 

 This genus is so nearly allied to that of Physa, as to 

 induce Sowerby to unite them ; he does not think 

 the latter being generally heterostrophe, or left-handed 

 shells, of sufficient importance to warrant their division. 

 LYONIA (Nuttall). A genus of evergreen 

 shrubs, separated from Andromeda, and discovered in 

 North America by Nuttall. The flowers are decan- 

 drious, and the genus belongs to the Ericete. The 

 plants are proper for what are called American bor- 

 ders, that is, formed entirely of moor-earth. They 

 are increased by seeds or layers. 



LYPERAN'THUS (R.' Brown). A genus of 



tuberous rooted perennials, belonging to Orchideee, 



natives of New Holland. They are cultivated in 

 pots of loam and moor-earth, and kept in a frame or 

 reenhouse. 



LYSIMACHIA (Linnaeus). A genus of Euro- 

 pean herbs, belonging to Pentandtiu, and to the 

 natural order Primulacete. In Britain they are known 

 by the name of loose strife ; ami a small creeping 

 one, L. nummularia, found in most meadows, is called 

 moneywort, from the appearance of its numerous 

 golden-coloured flowers which enamel the turf. This 

 plant is sometimes kept in pots as a window plant, 

 and is as such very ornamental. 



LYSYNEMA (R. Brown). A genus of ever- 

 green ornamental shrubs, natives of Australia. Class 

 and order Penlandria Monogynia, and natural order 

 Epacride<z. Generic character : calyx coloured and 

 mullibructate ; corolla pitcher-shaped ; segments of 

 the limb beardless, turned or bent to the right ; sta- 

 mens below the germen ; anthers horizontal ; five 

 scales round the germen ; capsule with a columnar 

 placenta. These plants thrive in coarse turfy moor- 

 earth and sand, and are propagated by cuttings. 



LYTHRARIE^E, or SALICARIJB. A natural order 

 of plants, containing in the last published books eleven 

 genera, and above sixty species. Most of these are 

 very showy plants, particularly the genera Ly thrum 

 and Lagerttrcemia, which are the representatives of 

 the order. They are chiefly natives of temperate 

 climates, on mountains, and among bushes. The 

 order is divided into two tribes ; the first is Saltcariece, 

 containing the genera Pejjlis, Ammannia, Lythrum, 

 Cuphea, Acisanthera, Lawsonia, Hcimia, Nes&a, De- 

 cadon, and Grislea ; the second is LagerstrcemietE, 

 containing only the genus Lagerstrcemia. Lythrum 

 and its allies are herbaceous, rarely shrubby plants 

 with tetragonal or subrotund branches, opposite, en- 

 tire, glandless, and footstalkless leaves. The inflo- 

 rescence is axillary, in cymes or spicate thyrsi ; the 

 calyx is persistent, with a bell-shaped tube, and cleft 

 limb ; the corolla is perigynous ; stamens proceed 

 from the tube of the calyx below the petals, and are 

 variable in number ; anthers are adnate, oval, and 

 open lengthways ; the ovaiium is free, two or four- 

 celled : style filiform ; and stigma headed. 



In the Lagerstrcemia, the sepals are exactly val- 

 vate, the petals never absent, and the seed-coat 

 expanded into a membraneous wing, in which circum- 

 stance this tribe differs from the Lythredae, whose 

 seeds are wingless. 



LYTHRUM (Linnaeus). A genus of annual and 

 perennial herbs, natives of Europe and America ; 

 class and order Dodccandria Monogynia, and natural 

 order Salicarue. The L. sulicaria, or willow herb, is 

 one of the most beautiful of our British native plants, 

 frequent on the margins of brooks and rivers. 



MACLEAYA (R. Brown). A genus containing 

 one species, imported from China, belonging to Pa- 

 paveracece. It was formerly called Bocconia by Lin- 

 na?us. It is a hardy plant, grows well in any light 

 rich soil, and makes a fine appearance when covered 

 with its large panicles of flowers; it is propagated by 

 seeds or divisions of the root. 



MACLURA (Nuttall). A genus of American 

 trees, bearing monoecious flowers, and belonging to 

 the natural order Urticea:. M. aurantiaca, from the 

 shiipe and colour of its ripe fruit, is called the Osage 

 orange. This is almost a hardy plant, and does pretty 

 well if planted against a south wall. Two other 



