Lysimachia racemosa, 3 



pear nothing else requisite in its culture than a free supply of 

 water. 



The appellation Lysimachia, is a very ancient generic term, and 

 we are informed by Pliny and Ambrosinus, that it was imposed in 

 honour of Lysimachus, a favourite general of Alexander the Great, 

 who afterwards became king of Thrace. The English name, Loose- 

 strife, given in common to all the species of the genus, is supposed 

 to be derived from two Greek words, a«w p«x««, a dissolution of strife, 

 or a peace-maker. The caprice, however, which affixed this name 

 and that of Lysimachus together, is enigmatical. And unless its ori- 

 gin be looked for in an ironical intention, the appellation seems un- 

 accountable ; since history informs us that this king was cruel, fe- 

 rocious, and strifeful. 



The most striking circumstance in the history of the present 

 species, is its occasional anomalous mode of re-production, by means 

 of bulbs. Hence Curtis called it L. bulbifera. Specimens are 

 not uncommon, which present so many of these axillary seeds, that 

 the aspect of the plant is, to those unacquainted with the fact, mate- 

 rially changed. In such instances the flowers are abortive, no seed 

 nor capsules being matured. The plant varies also in being simple, 

 or very much branched, according to circumstances. Grounds 

 generally wet, or occasionally irrigated or inundated, and the bor- 

 ders of rivers, rivulets, bogs, and watery thickets, will seldom be 



