Leavei large, lanceolate-acute. Flowers very large, terminal, rather 
drooping; peduncles 1-flowered. Calyx long, cylindrically ventricoae. 
Petals somewliat 4-cleft. Stamens short. (G. Don.) 
104 THE LADIES' ELOWER-GARDEN 
11.— SILENE LACINIATA, Cav. THE CUT-FLOWERED CATCHFLY. 
Synonyme. — Lychnis pulchra, Schlect. 
Enghatimgs Bot. Reg. 1444 ; Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. i. p. 
■ 267 ; and om Jig. 5 in Plate 25. 
Specific Character. — Plant pubescent. Stem erect, hranched. 
Description, &c. — A very showy species, a native of Mexico, but one which it is very difficult to manage. 
It will not thrive either in a stove or greenhouse, and yet it is scarcely hardy enough for the open air. The best 
way of treating it appears to be to keep it in a frame during winter, and to plant it in the open ground in spring, 
for it to flower during summer. It is generally increased by cuttings, as it seldom ripens seeds. It is a native 
of Mexico, and was introduced in 1823. 
12.— SILENE COMPACTA, Fisch. THE COMPACT-FLOWERED CATCHFLY. 
Engravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard., 2d ser. t. 64 ; Lodd. Bot. 
Cab., t. 1638; and om Jig. 1 in Plate 25. 
Specific Character. — Plant glabrous, glaucous. Stem erect, 
branched; leaves ovate-cordate, sessile, with two large ones like an 
involucre near the corymb, appearing aa if they were connate. Bracteas 
narrow, shorter than the pedicels. Flowers crowded into dense 
corymbs. Calyx very long, clavate. Petals ov.ite-acute, entire, 
crowned. 
Description, &c. — This very beautiful species is a biennial, growing about two feet high in the open ground, 
and rather lower on rockwork. It is very handsome, and produces abundance of flowers. It is a native of 
Mount Caucasus, and quite hardy in British gardens. It was introduced in 1810. The seeds should be sown in 
March, and the plants should be transplanted in autumn to the places where they are to flower. 
OTHER SPECIES OF SILENE. 
These are so extremely numerous, that it will only be necessary here to mention a few of the most prominent. 
S. STELLATA, Ait., Bot. Mag. t. 1 107. 
The flowers are white, without a crown, and the petals are fringed. It is a native of North America, from 
Virginia to Canada. It was introduced in 1696. 
S. PUSILLA, JValdst et Kit. ; Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. 2d ser. t. 40. 
A very pretty little Alpine plant, growing in tufts, and with white flowers. A native of Hungary, on 
the Alps. Introduced in 1804. 
S. ALPESTRIS, Jacq. ; Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. t. 111. 
The plant is glabrous, with a somewhat creeping root. The flowers are white and shining. A native of 
Austria, on the Alps ; introduced in 1774. Both this and the preceding species are very suitable for rock-work. 
S. SAXIFRAGA, Lin. 
A small plant, with pinkish flowers, a aative of France ; introduced in 1640. 
S. SUPINA, Bieb. 
A very pretty species, with a procumbent stem, sending up erect shoots at intervals. The flowers have 
white petals, and the calyxes tinged with pink. The species is a native of Mount Caucasus, whence it was 
introduced in 1804. There is a variety with broader leaves. 
Most of the other ornamented species of SUene are annuals. 
