THE MEADOW SAFFRONS 165 



THE EED LYCHNIS. 



The Red Lychnis (Lychnis dioica, Linn.), belong- 

 ing to the same family as the Campion, and like- 

 wise a common British plant, is another meadow 

 species of some interest. It is a very near relative 

 of the White Lychnis (L. vespertina, Siboth.), of 

 which it is very probably only a variety with red 

 flowers adapted to pollination in the day-time, 

 whereas in the White Lychnis the flowers are closed 

 by day and open only at night, when they are visited 

 by moths. White is a more conspicuous colour than 

 red at night-time, though not by daylight. The 

 Red Lychnis is fertilised by bees. Both these plants 

 have unisexual flowers, the male and female flowers 

 being borne on different plants. Bisexual flowers 

 are also sometimes found. 



THE MEADOW SAFFRONS. 



If we visit the Alps in September, we shall find 

 that the meadows in autumn present a very similar 

 appearance to that noticed in early spring. They 

 are thick with a Crocus-like plant, often called the 

 Meadow Crocus, with pink or lilac flowers. This is 

 really the Meadow Saffron, and in most cases it is the 

 common British Saffron (Colchicum autumnale, Linn., 

 natural order Liliaceae, the Lily family). There is 

 another species sometimes found in cantons Tessin 

 and the Valais, the Alpine Saffron (CokMcum alpinum, 



