Lysimachia vulgaris. Yellow Loose-strife. 



LYSIMACHIA Lin. Gen. PI. Pentandria monogynia. 



Cor. rotata. Cap/, globofa, mucronata, decemvalvis. 



Rail Syn. Gen. 18. Herbje fructu sicco singulari flore monopetalo. 



LYSIMACHIA vulgaris paniculata, racemis terminalibus. Lin. Syfi. Vegetab. p. 165. Sp. PI. p. 209, 

 Fl. Suecic. n. 175. 



LYSIMACHIA foliis ovato-lanceolatis, fpicis paniculatis. Hall. Hi/. 630. 



LYSIMACHIA vulgaris. Scopoli Fl. Cam. n. 214. 



LYSIMACHIA lutea. /. B. II. 90 1 . Ger. emac. 474. 



LYSIMACHIA lutea major quae Diofcoridis. Bauh. Pin. 245* 



LYSIMACHIA lutea major vulgaris. Park. 544. Yellow Willow-herb or Loofe ftrife. Rait Syn, 

 282. Hud/on Fl. Angl. ed. 2. p. 86. Light/hot FL Scot. p. 138. 



RADIX perennis, repens. ? ROOT perennial and creeping. 



CAULIS tripedalis et ultra, erectus, ubi folia bina ob- J STALK, three feet or more in height, when the leaves 

 tufie tetragonus, ubi terna fulcatus, feu angu- ? grow in pairs, obtufely four-cornered; when 



lofus, angulis obtufis ; fuperne hirfutulus, | three together, grooved or angular, angles ob- 



inferne glaber, ramofus, ad genicula paululum % tufe, the upper part of the ftalk (lightly hairy, 



incraiTatus. | the lower fmooth, branched, and a little 



■% thickened at the joints. 



FOLIA bina, feu terna, quaterna et quina etiam obfer- 1 LEAVES growing in pairs, or three together, I have 

 vavi, feffilia, ovato-lanceolata, integra, margins ^ even noticed them growing four or five toge- 



inaequali, venofa, nuda. ther, feffile, ovate and pointed, entire but not 



I perfectly even on the edges, veiny and defti- 



$ tute of hairs. 



FLORES paniculati, lutei, racemis terminalibus ex alisf FLOWERS yellow, forming a panicle, flower-branches 

 foliorum. f terminal, growing from the alas of the leaves. 



PEDUNCULI uniflori, fubvifcidi, apice incraffati. | FLOWER-STALRS fin gle- flowered, fomewhat vifcid, 



^ and thickened at the extremity. 



CALYX: Perianthium monophyllum, quinquepar- ? CALYX : a Perianthium of one leaf, deeply divided 

 titum, acutum, erectum, perfiftens, laciniisl into five fegments, pointed, upright, and per- 



flriatis, rubro marginatis, apicibus ante et poit % manent, the fegments ftriated, and edged with 



florefcentiam tortuofis. fig. 1 . I red, the tips both before and after flowering 



% twilled, fig. 1. 



COROLLA monopetala, rotata. Limbus quinquepar- 1 COROLLA monopetalous, wheel-fhaped. Limb deeply 

 titus, laciniis ovatis, acutis. fig. 2. y divided into five fegments, which are ovate 



J and pointed, fig. 2. 



STAMINA: Filamenta quinque, inaequalia, corolla | STAMINA : five Filaments, unequal, fhorter than 

 breviora, fubulata, compreffa, vifcofa, bafi con- 1 the corolla, tapering, flattened, vifcid, grow- 



nata. Anthers incumbentes, fubfagittatas. I ing together at bottom. Antherje incum- 



fig. 3. % bent, fomewhat arrow-fhaped. fig. 3. 



PISTILLUM: Germen fubrotundum. Stylus fili- 1 PISTILLUM : Germen roundiih. Style filiform, the 

 formis, longitudine ftaminum, peracla. floref- % length of the ftamina, lengthened out as the 



centia elongatus. Stigma obtulum. fig. 4. | flowers go off. Stigma blunt, fig. 4. 



PERICARPIUM: Capsula globofa, unilocularis, • de- | SEED- VESSEL a globular capfule of one cavity, and 

 cemvalvis. % ten valves. 



SEMINA plurima, minima. | SEEDS numerous, very minute. 



RECEPTACULUM globofum, maximum. % RECEPTACLE globular, and very large. 



Some of the ancient writers attributed,, a very lingular property to this plant ; no lefs than a power of taming 

 ferocious, and reconciling difcordant animals ; and hence they derive its name of Lyfimachia *. Others attribute 

 the origin of its name to the learned and brave Lysimachus, who, they fay, was its firft difcoverer: however 

 this be, our Engliih name of Loofe-ftri/e appears evidently to be founded on the power thus idly afcribed to it. 



This herb, though not fo common as its name feems to imply, is tolerably frequent about London, in moift 

 meadows, and by water-fides, efpecially in the environs of the 'Thames. 



It varies much in the number of the leaves at the joints, and confequently in the angular appearance of its ftalk. 

 The twifted tips of the Calyx, though very remarkable, do not appear to have been- noticed by authors. 



Such as wifh to ornament the edge of a river, or piece of water, cannot fele£t a more proper plant ; but its 

 beautiful effect will be heightened by planting with it the Ly thrum Salicaria ; both of thefe have ftrong perennial 

 roots, and will alfo readily grow in gardens where the foil is moift. 



It flowers in July and Augufi. 



Some afcribe to it the power of dying green. 



* A pugna d'mmenda for *w»» tv p&xw eft certamen dirimire, of taking away ftrife or debate between beafts, not only thofe that are yoked 

 together, but even thofe that are wild alfo, by making them tame and quiet, which, as they fay, this herb will do, if it be either put about their 

 yokes or their necks, which how true 1 leave to them who Ihall try and find it fo. Parkins, p. 544, 



