170 



LYCHNIS. 



Leaves, lance-shaped, slightly heart- 

 shaped at the base, pilose, clasp- 

 ing the stem; the plant somewhat 

 clammy. There are the following 

 varieties in cultivation, the single 

 white, double white, and double 

 scarlet ; the best is the double scarlet. 



S. Russia and Japan. Borders, in 



light rich loam. Division and seed. 



Lychnis diurna (Red Campion). 

 Silene diurna. A common hedge plant, 

 1 to 3 ft. high. Flowers, in summer ; 

 purplish - rose ; calyx very hairy. 

 Leaves, opposite ; lower ones obovate- 

 spoon-shaped, middle ones oval-ellipti- 

 cal, acute ; upper ones lanceolate. 

 Whole plant covered with long, soft 

 hairs, not glandular. Britain, and 



other parts of Europe. The double 



variety is a handsome border plant, 

 increased by division, and thriving 

 best in rich deep soil. Division. 



Lychnis Flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin). 

 Agrzstemma Flos-cuculi. A well- 

 known British plant, 1 to 2 ft. high. 

 Flowers, early in summer ; red, scent- 

 less, in loose terminal panicles ; petals 

 cut into 4 narrow lobes, the middle 

 ones the longest ; calyx bell-shaped, 

 with 10 ribs, and 5 short teeth. Leaves, 

 few, narrowly lance- shaped ; those 

 stem connate, of root stalked. The 

 plant is so abundant in Britain that 

 it would not have been mentioned 

 here, were it not for its double variety 

 L. Flos-cuculi, fl. pi., which is a very 

 ornamental border plant. Europe and 



Russian Asia. Borders, and in 



moist spots, in ordinary soil. Division. 



Lychnis Flos-Jovis (Umbellate L.) 

 , Agrostemma Flos-Jovis. A whitish- 

 leaved species, 12 to 15 in. high. 

 Flowers, in summer ; purple or scar- 

 let, in umbellate heads ; calyx 

 cylindrical, clubbed; petals 2-lobed. 

 Leaves, lance-shaped, stem-clasping, 

 clothed with a white silky down. 



Switzerland. Borders, rockwork, 



or on bare banks, in sandy loam. Seed. 



Lychnis fulgens (Brilliant L.) A 

 very showy plant, 6 in. to 1 ft. high. 

 Flowers, in early summer; brilliant 

 vermilion, large and handsome, in 

 corymbs; petals 2- divided, outer di- 

 visions awl-shaped ; calyx cylindrical, 

 woolly. Leaves, ovate - lanceolate, 

 greyish; stems hairy. Siberia. Bor- 

 ders, in sandy loam. Seed and division. 



Lychnis grandiflora (Large L.) L. 

 coronata. A remarkably handsome 

 plant, 8 in. to 1 ft. high. Flowers, 

 from June to August ; of a brick-red 

 or scarlet colour, sometimes nearly 

 2 in. across ; limb of the petals ele- 

 gantly cut and spreading, 1 to 3 

 Hewers at the top of each flower-stem ; 

 calyx swollen, marked with longitudi- 

 nal lines. Leaves, almost sessile, op- 

 posite, oval-acute, smooth, of a delicate 



green. China. Warm borders, in 



sandy loam. Seed and division. 



Lychnis Haageana (Shaggy L.) 

 Remarkable for its very large and 

 brilliant flowers and shaggy stems, 1 

 to If ft. high. Flowers, in summer; 

 of a splendid scarlet, nearly, and 

 sometimes quite, 2 in. across, 2 or 3 

 on each of the very shaggy stems ; 

 petals broadly obovate, indented on 

 the top and furnished with 2 long 

 teeth at the side ; calyx shaggy, in- 

 flated and angular. Leaves, large, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, hairy and pur- 

 plish-brown below. Native country 

 unknown, probably a hybrid. Bor- 

 ders, in sandy soil. Seed and division. 



Lychnis Lagascae (Rock L.) A bril- 

 liant alpine plant, about 3 ic. high. 

 Flowers, early in summer ; bright rose- 

 colour, with white centres when young, 

 each about fin. across. Leaves, obovate 

 or oblong, somewhat leathery, and 

 slightly glaucous. Sub- alpine region 



of the Western Pyrenees. The 



rock-garden, in any position. A few 

 specimens should be on high points as 

 it is effective a long way off; it is also 

 a capital border plant, and for grow- 



