OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 105 
GENUS III. 
LYCHNIS, Lin. THE LYCHNIS. 
Lin. Sysl. DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Gfneric Character. — Calyx cylindrical, clavate, 5-toothcd, naked, i ten. Styles five. Capsules one-celled. Anthopboium long or short. 
Petals Ere, ungniculate, crowned with scales at the throat. Stamens | (G. Dojt.) 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this genus have all showy flowers, most of which are, indeed, of 
so brilliant a scarlet as to give rise to the name, which signifies a link or lamp. Several species formerly included 
in this genus have been removed to Agrostemma ; and others formerly included in Agrosterama, have been 
removed to Lychnis. All the species are hardy, and all remarkably showy. They are also mostly perennial j 
the only annuals now left in the genus being L.Cceli-Rosa,a,ud its varieties. 
1.— LYCHNIS CHALCEDONICA, Lin. THE SCARLET LYCHNIS. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 257 ; and out fig. 1 in Plate 26. 
Specific Character. — Plant smoothisb, clammy. Flowers coiymbose, in bundles ; calyx cylindrical, clavate, ribbed ; petals two-lobed. 
Description, &c. — There are several varieties of this very showy species, as for example the double scarlet 
and the single and double white. Both the species and the varieties have been common for above two hundred 
years in British gardens, as they were mentioned by Gerard in 1596 ; and they were in such favour with 
Parkinson, that in his Paradisus Terrestris, published in 1640, he is represented in the frontispiece holding a 
double scarlet Lychnis in his hand. The species is a native of Russia, but it has been long in cultivation in 
every part of Europe, it being called Croix de Malthe, in France and Portugal, Croce de Cavaliere in Italy, and 
Croix de Jerusalem in Spain. The culture of the Scarlet Lychnis is very simple. The species is increased by 
parting its roots in autumn, or by seeds sown in spring ; but the varieties, and especially the double kinds, are 
best increased by cuttings, taken oflf before the flowers open, as when the root is divided, the flowers are apt to 
degenerate ; the cuttings are, however, rather difficult to strike. All the kinds thrive best in a light rich loamy 
soil. 
2.— LYCHNIS FLOS JOVIS, Lin. THE FLOWER OF JOVE, OR UMBELLATED LYCHNIS. 
Symonymes. — Agrostemma Flos Jovis, Lin. ; the umbelled Rose 
Campion. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag. t. 398. 
Specific Character. — Plant white from tomentum. Flowers in 
umbellate heads ; calyx cylindrical, clavate, ribbed ; petals two-lobed ; 
antliophorum short, thick. Leaves lanceolate, clasping tlie stem, silky 
tomentum. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This species is by no means entitled to its lofty name of Flower of Jove, as it possesses 
very little beauty. The flowers are pink, and grow close together, so as to form a very small compact umbel ; 
and the leaves are thick and covered with a silky or rather woolly down. The flowers are produced in June and 
July. The plant should be grown in rather a stiiF loam, and it may be propagated by parting its roots, or 
by seed, the latter mode being thought the best. It is a native of Switzerland, and was introduced in 1726. 
There is a variety with the flowers on longer footstalks, and forming larger umbels. 
