672 LYCHNIS. [CLASS X. ORDER IV. 



English Botany, t, 788. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 327,— Hookeiv 

 British Flora, vol. i, p. 214. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 47. 



Root tapering. Stem erect, about twelve inches high, simple, leafy, 

 somewhat angular, viscid beneath the joints, smooth. Leaves oppo- 

 site, and united at the base, smooth, except the margins towards the 

 base, ciliated with soft woolly hairs, linear lanceolate, with an acumi- 

 nated point, paler on the under side, with a prominent mid-rib, the 

 radical ones narrower, longer, and somewhat tufted. Inflorescence a 

 terminal panicle of numerous whorled flowers. Flowers pink or white, 

 each on a short footstalk, with a pair of thin membranous lanceolate 

 acuminate bracteas. Calyx tubular, smooth, ten ribbed, five toothed. 

 Corolla of five petals, the limb spreading, slightly notched, or entire, 

 tapering into a slender claw, which is enlarged at the top, and crowned 

 at the throat with a pair of lanceolate scales. Stamens on slender 

 filaments, with oblong anthers. Styles slender, with downy stigmas. 

 Capsule ovate oblong, on a rather long footstalk, of one cell, opening 

 with five valves. Seeds numerous. 



Habitat. — Dry alpine rocks, Scotland; about Edinburgh, Newbury, 

 Fifeshire, near Airly Castle, Bridge of Earne, and Den of Balthayock, 

 Perthshire; and on Craig Wreidhin or Breiddiu, Montgomeryshire. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June., 



Both the pink coloured and white flowered varieties of this species 

 are frequently cultivated in gardens, and form very pretty border 

 flowers. They are very hardy, and are easily propagated by cuttings, 

 and the L. chalcedonica, or Scarlet Lychnis, is an old and favourite 

 border flower, a native of Russia. It is readily cultivated and easily 

 propagated, both by seed and cuttings. The flowers frequently be- 

 come double, and sometimes white varieties are obtained. 



3. L. alpi'na, Linn. (Fig. 768.) Red Alpine Campion. Flowers in 

 a close terminal panicle; petals bifid, smooth; leaves lanceolate; cap- 

 sule roundish, ovate, of one cell. 



English Botany, t. 2254.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 328.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p, 215. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 47. 



Root fibrous. The whole plant smooth, and free from viscidity. 

 Stem erect, from three to six inches high, simple. Leaves of the stem 

 lanceolate, sessile, united at the base, single ribbed, the radical ones 

 narrower, crowded into thick tufts. Inflorescence a terminal crowded 

 sub-corymbose panicle. Flowers small, bright rose colour. Calyx 

 broadish, bell-shaped, quite smooth, and with indistinct ribs. Corolla 

 of five petals, the limb spreading, deeply cleft, tapering into a slender 

 claw, crowned at the throat with two scale-like protuberances. Stamens 

 with slender awl- shaped ^/arnew/s, five longer than the others. Anthers 

 oblong, of two cells. Capsules roundish ovate, on a short stalk, when 

 young divided into five cells, but in maturity of one cell, opening with 

 five acute recurved valves, cleft to near the middle of the capsules. 

 Seeds numerous, dark brown, beautifully marked with elevated points. 



