CARYOPHYLLACE^i. 



113 



3. Corn Lychnis. Lychnis G-ithago, Linn. (Fig. 140.) 

 (Agrostemma, Eng. Bot. t. 741. Corn Cockle.) 



A tall, erect annual, simple or slightly 

 branched, clothed with long, soft, whitish 

 appressed hairs. Leaves long and nar- 

 row. Flowers on long leafless peduncles, 

 rather large, red, and inodorous, re- 

 markable for the long, green, linear 

 lobes of the calyx, projecting much be- 

 yond the petals ; the latter are broad, 

 undivided, and without any scales on 

 the lamina. Capsule opening in 5 teeth. 



Probably of south-eastern origin, but 

 now a common cornfield weed, all over 

 Europe and Russian Asia, except the 

 extreme north. Abundant in British 

 cornfields. Fl. ivith the corn. 



Fig. 140. 



4. Meadow Lychnis. Lychnis Flos-cuculi, Linn. (Fig. 141.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 573. Bagged Eobin.) 



Stock short and perennial, but not of 

 long duration, stems erect, not much 

 branched, 1 to 2 feet high, slightly downy 

 below and viscid above. Leaves few, nar- 

 row-lanceolate, the lower ones stalked. 

 Flowers in loose terminalpanicles,redand 

 scentless, but remarkable for their petals 

 cut into 4 linear lobes, the two middle 

 ones the longest. Calyx short, glabrous, 

 with 10 ribs and 5 short teeth. Capsule 

 nearly globular, opening in 5 teeth. 



In moist or marshy meadows and pas- 

 tures, ditches, etc., throughout Europe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme 

 north. Abundant in Britain. Fl. spring 

 and summer. 



Fig. 141. 



VOL. I. 



