112 



THE PINK FAMILY. 



may be mentioned the L. chalcedonica, L. coronaria or Rose Campion, 

 L. Coeli-JRosa, and L. ocellata, from the Mediterranean region or the 

 Levant, and L.fulgens from Mexico. 



1. White Lychnis. Lychnis vespertina, Sibth. (Fig. 138.) 

 (L. dloica alba, Eng. Bot. t. 1580.) 



A rather coarse, hairy biennial, more 

 or less viscid, 1 to 2 feet high, and loosely 

 branched. Leaves oval-oblong, usually 

 pointed, tapering at the base, the lower 

 ones stalked. Flowers few, in loose 

 panicles, rather large, white, or rarely 

 pale pink, opening in the evening (when 

 they are slightly scented), and usually 

 dioecious. Calyx 7 to 9 lines long, softly 

 hairy, with 10 ribs and 5 lanceolate- 

 linear teeth, swelling as the capsule 

 ripens, so as to assume an ovoid shape. 

 Petals 2- cleft. Capsule ovoid, opening 

 at the top in 10 teeth, which remain 

 erect, or curve slightly outwards. 



Under hedges, in fields and waste 

 places, throughout Europe and [Russian 

 FL all summer. 



Asia. 



Fig. 138. 

 Abundant in Britain. 



Bed Lychnis. Lychnis diurna, Sibth. (Fig. 139.) 

 {L. dioica rubra, Eng. Bot. t. 1579.) 



Yery near the white L., and perhaps 

 a mere variety, but the plant is less 

 viscid, the leaves and calyxes usually 

 shorter, the flowers red, scentless, open- 

 ing in the morning, and the capsule more 

 globular, the 10 teeth very spreading, 

 or rolled back. 



In moist, shady places, woods and 

 hedge-banks, with the same geographical 

 range as the white L. Equally common 

 in Britain. Fl. all summer, commencing 

 in spring. 



Fig. 139. 



