Lychnis Flos Cuculi. Meadow Lychnis, 
LYCHNIS Limuei Gen. PL Decandria Pentagynia. 
Ran Synopjis Gem 24. Herba: pfntapetalte vasculifer.e. 
LYCHNIS Flos Cuculi petalis quadrifidis fruftu fubrotundo. Lin. Syfi. Vegetab. p. 361. Sp. PL 62$. 
LYCHNIS petalis quadrifidis. Haller, hifi. v. u n. 921. 
CARYOPYLLUS pratenfis, laciniato flore fimplici, five Flos cuculi. Bauhim pint 215* 
LYCHNIS plumaria fylveftris fimplex. Parkinfon. par ad. 253. 
ARMERIUS pratenfis mas et foemina. Gerard. Emac. 600. 
Rail Synop. ei. 3. 33S. Hudfon. FI. Angl. 174. OeJer. Plor. Ban. tat. 59 6. Scopdi. FI 
CarnioL ed. 2. p. 31 u 
RADIX perennis, fibrofa, ex albido fufca, faporis fub- 
acris. 
CAULIS pedalis ad tripedalem, ereftus, fulcato-angula- 
tus, articulatus, geniculi tumidi, fcabriufculus,- 
purpurafcens. 
FOLIA Caulis, oppofita, connata, lanceolata, carina- 
ta, fuberedta, laevia. 
X ROOT perennial, fibrous, of a brownifh white colour, 
1 and fomewhat biting tafte. 
STALK from one to three feet high, upright, fome- 
what angular and grooved, jointed, the joints 
fwelled, roughifh, and of a purplifh colour. 
[ LEAVES of the Stalk oppofite, connate, lanceolate, 
the midrib prominent underneath, upright and 
fmooth. 
.PEDUNCULI oppofiti, plerumque unico intermedio. | PEDUNCLES oppofite, one generally intermediate. 
CALYX : Perianthium monophyllum, tubulatum 
quinquedentatum, decangulatum, purpureum, 
perfiftens. fig '. 1 . 
COROLLA Petala quinque, unguis longitudine caly- 
cis, fig. 2. limbus quadrifidus, laciniis exteri- 
oribus brevioribus, et anguftioribus, fig. 4 
ad bafin limbi laminse duas eredtas acutze. fig. 3] ; 
STAMINA: Filamenta decem, fubulata, quorum 
quinque breviora, fig. 5, brevioribus ungui peta- 
lorum affixis, fig. 6 . Anther m oblongas, bilo- 
culares, fig. y. incumbentes, purpurafeentes. 
PISTILLUM Germen fubovatum, fig. 8. Styli quin- 
que fubulati, fubincurvati, fig. 10. Stigmata 
fimplicia. fig. 10. 
PE&ICARPIUM Capsula ovata, unilocularis, ore 
quinquedentato , dentibus rtfiexis. fig. 9. 
SEMINA numerofa, fubcomprefla, fcabriufcula, ex ci- 
nereo-fufea. fig. 11. 12. 
: CALYX a Perianthium of one leaf, tubular, quinque- 
dentate, having ten angles, or ridges, and of a 
deep purple colour. 
COROLLA : five petals, the claw the length of the 
Calyx, fig. 2. the limb divided into four laci- 
nias, the exterior fhorteft and narroweft, fig. 4. 
at the bottom of the limb are placed two fmall 
upright laminas, fig. 3. 
STAMINA : ten Filaments, tapering, five long and 
£ five fhort, fig. 5. the fhorter filaments affixed 
to the claw of each petal, fig. 6. the Antherje 
oblong, bilocular, fig. 7. laying acrofs the fila- 
I ments, and of a purplifh hue. 
? PISTILLUM: the Germen fomewhat oval, fig. 8. five 
4 StVI. 17.51 tanprmn* onrl j nir o UffL : ..... 1 
. Styles tapering and bending a little inward* 
fig. io. Stigmata fimple. fig. 10. 
I SEED-VESSEL: a Capsule, oval, of one cavity, the 
mouth having five teeth which turn back. fig. 9. 
[ SEEDS numerous, flattifh, rough, and of a brown afh 
f colour, fig. 11. 12. 
A variety of names hath been given to this Plant, as Meadow Pink, Cuckow Flower, Wild Williams, Ra<ro- e d 
Robin, &c. Meadow Lychnis however feems to us the moft eligible. It abounds in moift Meadows, where it 
flowers in May and June, and is included amongfl the great number of which our Meadow hay is compounded. 
Goats, Sheep, and Horfes are faid to feed on it. The ufe to which it is applied, feems to be chiefly ornamental ; 
the beauty of its flowers juftly entitles it (with many other neglefted Britilh Plants) to a place in the Gardens of 
the curious : where it is frequently found with a double flower, making a beautiful appearance, and requiring little 
more care in its culture, than to be placed in a moift fituation : It may be propagated either by feeds or flips ; the feeds 
may be found ripe in the latter end of June, by the fides of ditches, where the Mower’s Scythe has not reached 
them. We fometimes find the Meadow Lychnis growing wild with a double flower, and fometimes with a white 
one ; but this is altogether accidental. 
The agreement between the blowing of flowers, and the periodical return of birds of paflage, has been attended 
to from the earlieft ages : Before the return of the feafons was exa&ly afeertained by Aftronomy, thefe obfervations 
were of great confequence in pointing out ftated times for the purpofes of Agriculture; and ftili, in many a Cottaoe, 
the birds of paflage and their correfponding flowers aflift in regulating 
“'The Jhort, and fimple Annals ofi the Poorfi 
For this reafon, no doubt, we have feveral other plants that, in different places, go by the name of Cuckow Flower. 
Gerard fays, Cardamine pratenfis (Common Ladies Smock) is the true Cuckow Flower. Shakejpear’s Cuckow 
Buds are of “ yellow hue.” By l'ome the Orchis, Arum, and Wood-forrel are all called after the Cuckow, 
J 
