LYT 
go L Y C* 
the form given to it. It is generally rolled 
into cylinders of a convenient size. r lhese 
are to be applied, by flattening them, to the 
joinings of the vessels, which ought to be per- 
fectly dry ; because the least moisture would 
prevent the lute from adhering. \\ hen the 
joinings are closed with this fat-lute, the 
whole is to be covered with slips of linen 
spread with a lute of lime and whites of eggs. 
These slips are to be fastened with pack- 
thread. The second lute is necessary to keep 
on the fat-late, because the latter remains 
soft, and does not become solid enough to 
stick on alone. 
Ground linseed made into a paste with 
water makes also a very useful lute for most 
occasions. 
LUTHERANS, the Christians who follow 
the opinions of Martin Luther, one of the 
principal reformers of the church in the six- 
teenth century. See Gregory’s Church His- 
tory, vol. ii. 
LUXATION. See Surgery. 
LYCHNIS, campion, a genus of the pcn- 
tagynia order, in the pentamMa class of 
plants, and in the natural method ranking 
under the 22d order, caryophylleae. The 
calyx is monophyllous, oblong, and smooth ; 
there are live unguiculated petals, with the 
segments of the limbs almost bilid ; the cap- 
sule quinquelocular. There are 12 species, 
the principal are, 1. The chalcedonica, or 
chalced'oniau scarlet. Of this there are varie- 
ties, with single scarlet flowers, with large 
double scarlet flowers of exceeding beauty 
and elegance, with pale red flowers, and with 
white flowers. Of these varieties the double 
scarlet lychnis is superior to gll for size and 
elegance, the flowers being large, very dou- 
ble, and collected into a very large bunch, 
exhibit a charming appearance; the single 
scarlet kind is also very pretty, and the 
others effect an agreeable variety with the 
Scarlet kinds. 2. The diurna: the varieties 
are, the common single red-flowered bach- 
elor’s button, double red, double white, and 
single white-flowered. The double varie- 
ties are exceedingly ornamental in their 
bloom ; the flowers large, very double, and 
continue long in blow ; the single red sort 
grows wild by ditch-sides and other moist 
places in many parts of England; from which 
the doubles were accidentally obtained by 
culture in gardens. 3. The viscaria, or vis- 
cous German lychnis, commonly called 
catch-fly. Of this also there are varieties 
with single red flowers, with double red 
flowers, and with white flowers. The double 
variety is considerably the most eligible for 
general culture, and is propagated in plenty 
by parting the roots. All the varieties of this 
species emitting a glutinous liquid matter 
from their stalks, flies happening to light 
on them sometimes stick and entangle them- 
selves, whence the plant obtains the name 
catch-fly. 4. The tlos cuculi, cuckoo-flower 
lychnis. The flowers having each petal 
deeply quadririd in a torn or ragged-like 
manner, the plant obtained the name of rag- 
ged robin. There are varieties with single 
and double flowers. The double sort is a 
large flower; it is an improved variety of the 
single, which grows wild in most of our moist 
meadows, ancl is rarely cultivated; but the 
double, being very ornamental,, merits cul- 
ture in every garden. 
J^YCIUM, a genus of the monogynia or- 
L Y C 
der, in the pcntandria class of plants, ancl in 
the natural method ranking under the 28th 
order, luridae. r l he corolla is tubular, having 
its throat closed up with the beard of the fila- 
ments; tiie berry is bilocular. 1 here are 
eight species, natives of various countries, and 
chiefly shrubs. 
LY C O PE RD ON, a genus of the natural 
order of fungi, belonging to the cryptoga- 
mia class of plants. r I he tungus is roundish, 
and full of farinaceous seeds. Dr. Withering 
reckons 25 species, of which the following are 
the most remarkable: 1. 1 he tuber, truffles, 
or subterraneous puff-balls, is a native ot 
woods both in England and Scotland. It is a 
subterraneous fungus, growing generally in 
clusters 3 or 4 inches under ground, without 
any visible root. The figure of it is nearly 
spherical, the size that of a potatoe ; the exte- 
rior coat at first white, afterwards black, and 
studded with pyramidical or polyhedrous tu- 
bercle: ; the internal substance solid and cal- 
lous, of a dirty-white or pale-brown co- 
lour, grained like a nutmeg with serpentine 
lines; in which, according to Micheli, are 
imbedded minute oval capsules, containing 
each from 2 to 4 round warted seeds. 1 he 
truffles of Great Britain seldom exceed 3 or 4 
ounces in weight; but in Italy, and some 
other parts of the continent, they are said to 
have been found of the enormous size ot S, 
and even 14 pounds, hey have a volatile 
and somewhat urinous smell, and are reputed 
to be aphrodisiacal. 2. The bovista, or com- 
mon puff-ball, is frequent in meadows and 
pastures in the autumn. It varies exceedingly 
in size, figure, superficies, and colour. In 
general, it consists of a sack or bag, having a 
root at its base, and the bag composed of 3 
membranes, an epidermis, a tough white skin, 
and an interior coat which adheres closely to 
the central pith. The pith in the young plants 
is of a yellowish colour, at first firm and solid, 
but soon changes into a cellular spongy sub- 
stance, full of a dark dull-green powder, which 
discharges itself through an aperture at the 
top of the fungus, which aperture is formed of 
lacerated segments, in some varieties reflex- 
ed. The powder is believed to be the seeds, 
which through a microscope appear of a sphe- 
rical form, and to be annexed to elastic hairs. 
LYCOPODIUM, or Club-moss, a genus 
of the natural order of musci, belonging to the 
crvptoganlia class of plants. I he antherae 
are bivalved and sessile; there are no calyp- 
tra. There are 29 species, of which the fol- 
lowing are the most remarkable: 1 . 1 he 
clavatum, or common club-moss, is common 
in dry and mountainous places, and in fir fo- 
rests. The stalk is prostrate, branched, and 
creeping from a foot to two or three yards 
long; the radicles woody. r l he leaves are 
numerous, narrow, lanceolated, acute, often 
incurved at the extremity, terminated with a 
long white hair, and every where surround 
the stalk. The peduncles are erect, firm, and 
naked, (except being thinly set with lanceo- 
let scales), and arise from the ends of the 
branches. They are generally two or three 
inches long, and terminated with two cylin- 
drical yellowish spikes, imbricated with oval- 
acute scales, finely lacerated on the edges, 
and ending with a hair. In the ala or bosom 
of the scale is a kidney-shaped chpsule, which 
bursts with elasticity when ripe, and throws 
out a light-yellow powder, which, blown into 
the flame of a candle, flashes with an explosion. 
LYCOPSIS, a genus of the monogynia 
order, in the penlandria class of plants, and 
in the natural method ranking under the 4 1st 
order, aspcrifolue. 1 he corolla has an inrur- 
vated tube. 1 here are eight species, chiefly 
annuals. 
LYCOPUS, a genus of the monogynia 
order, belonging to the diandria class of 
plants, and in the natural method ranking 
under the 42d order, verticillatre. 1 lie co- 
rolla is quadrifid, with one of the segments 
emarginated; the stamina standing asunder, 
with four- refuse seeds. There are three spe- 
cies, of which the watey-horehound might 
prob ibly be of use in dyeing. 
LYGEUM, a genus of the monogynia or- 
der, in the triandria class o! plants, and in the 
natural method ranking under the fourth or- 
der, gram ina. The spatlra or sheath is mono- 
phyllous; there are a pair of corolla: upon the 
same germen ; the nut is bilocular, there is 
one species, a grass of Spain. 
LYDIAN STONE, in mineralogy, is com- 
monly intersected by veins ot quartz. Frac- 
ture even, and sometimes inclining to con- 
choidal. Specific gravity 2.6 nearly. Powder 
black, or greyish black. This stone, or one 
similar to it, was used by the ant lei its as a 
touchstone. They drew the metal to be ex- 
amined along the stone, and judged of its pu- 
rity by the colour of the metallic streak. On 
this account it was called Baaa>os, tiie trier. 
It was called theXydian stone, as being found 
in the river Tmolus in Lydia. 
LYMPH. See Anatomy, and Physio- 
logy. 
LYNX. See Felis. 
LY RE, Lyra, a musical instrument of the 
string kind, much used by the ai.tients. 
Lyre, lyra, in astronomy, a constellation 
of the northern hemisphere, the number of 
whose stars, in Ptolemy’s and Tycho’s cata- 
logues, are only 10, but 19 in the Britannic 
catalogue. 
LY RIC. See Poetry. 
LYSIMACHIA, loosestrife, a genus of 
the monogynia order, in the pentanclria class 
of plants, and in the natural method ranking, 
under the 20th order, rotaceae. '1 he corolla 
is rotaceous; the capsule globular, beaked, 
and ten-valved. There are 12 species, but 
only four are commonly cultivated in gardens. 
These are hardy herbaceous perennials and 
biennials, rising with erect stalks from 18 
inches to two or three feet high, and termi- 
nated by spikes and clusters ot monopetalous, 
rotated, five-parted spreading flowers of 
white and yellow colours. The nuinmulana, 
or yellow moneywort, or herb jevoperee, is 
particularly beautiful. 
LYTHRUM, purple loosestrife, a genus 
of the monogynia order, in the decandria 
class of plants, and in the natural method 
ranking under the 17th order, calycanthemae. 
The fealyx is cleft in 12 parts; and there are 
six petals inserted into it ; thq capsule is bilo- 
cular and polyspermous. There are 18 spe- 
cies, of which "the most remarkable are, 1 . The 
salicaria, or common purple loosestrife, with 
oblong leaves, is a native of Britain, ancl grows, 
naturally by the sides of ditches ancl rivers. 
2. The hispanum, or Spanish loosestrife, with 
a hyssop leaf, grows naturally in Spain and 
Portugal. The flowers are larger than those 
of the common sort, and make a fine ap- 
pearance in the mouth of July, when they 
are in beauty. 
