86 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



D. plumarius. L. Feathered Pink. Named from its many- 

 cleft petals ; is common to Europe, whence we received it ; 

 glaucous ; throat of the corolla hairy. The Pheasant's Eye is of 

 this species, of which 300 varieties are cultivated about Paisley. 

 Loudon. 



D. barbatus. L. Sweet William. From Germany ; bears 

 red or whitish and often greatly variegated flowers, in tufts or 

 fascicles, with scales as long as the tube of the corolla. Cultiva- 

 tion is making this a very beautiful species, of great variety and 

 mixture of colors. 



There are reckoned 41 species of this genus ; only a few are 

 beautiful. The carnation and pink have been called the florist's 

 flower. Loudon. 



Lychnis. L. 10. 5. 



L. chalcedonica. L. Scarlet Lychnis or Campion. A na- 

 tive of Russia, cultivated for its beauty ; the border of the petal 

 somewhat 2-cleft, or deeply emarginate ; flowers fascicled, level- 

 topped ; rather rough-leafed. 



One or two species more are said to be cultivated. One small 

 one is a native of Labrador. The cottony leaves of some spe- 

 cies have been used as wicks for lamps ; hence the name, Lych- 

 nis, from the Greek word for lamp. 



Saponaria. L. 10. 2. Soapwort. 



S. officinalis. L., and S. vaccaria, L., have wandered from 

 the gardens into the fields, and are naturalized. In Berkshire 

 County, the former bears large double flowers. 



The mucilaginous sap of the leaves is said to have a soap-like 

 power ; hence the name. S. officinalis is bitter, and was used 

 to cure the itch. Loudon. 



Agrostemma. L. 10. 5. 



Named from the Greek, crown of the field, on account of the 

 beauty of the flowers ; only four species, and all natives of Eu- 

 rope. Tubular calyx, 5-sided. 



