114 



THE PINK FAMILY. 



5. Viscid Lychnis. Lychnis Viscaria, Linn. (Fig. 142.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 788.) 



Stock perennial, usually tufted, the 

 flowering stems erect, 6 inches to a foot 

 high, glabrous, hut very viscid in the 

 upper part. Leaves long and narrow, 

 the lower ones contracted into long stalks, 

 which are often fringed with a few woolly 

 hairs. Flowers red, in close, sessile or 

 shortly-stalked opposite clusters, form- 

 ing an oblong panicle, or sometimes a 

 terminal head. Calyx tubular, about 6 

 lines long, with 10 veins and 5 short 

 teeth, rather swollen above the middle 

 as the fruit ripens. Petals slightly 

 notched. 



On rocks and rather dry hilly pastures, 

 in northern and central Europe and a 

 great part of Russian Asia, but not an 

 Arctic plant, and yet rare in southern 

 Europe. In Britain confined to a few 

 localities in North Wales and Scotland, 

 especially about Edinburgh and in Perthshire. Fl. June. 



Fig. 142. 



6. Alpine Lychnis. Lychnis alpina, Linn. (Fig. 143.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2254.) 



Like the viscid L. in habit and foliage, 

 but smaller and not viscid. Stems sel- 

 dom 6 inches high. Flowers pink, smaller 

 than in the viscid L., in compact heads, 

 the calyx much shorter, and the petals 

 narrow and deeply 2-cleft. 



In rocky situations, at high latitudes 

 or great elevations, in Arctic and north- 

 ern Europe and Asia, and in the higher 

 mountain, ranges of central Europe. In 

 Britain, only known on the summit of 

 Little Kilrannoch, a mountain in For- 

 farshire, and on Hobcartin Fell, in Cum- 

 berland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 143. 



