Lycopfrdon. 
Lycodontidae 
Lycodontidse (11-ko-don'ti-de), . pi. [NL., < 
Lyeodon (Lycodont-) + -id<?.'\ In Giinther's sys- 
tem of classification, a family of colubrif orm ser- 
pents, typified by the genus Lyeodon. The body is 
moderately thick ; the head is oblong, with a flat top and 
generally a flattened and broadly rounded snout ; the ante- 
rior teeth of both jaws are generally longest, and there are 
no grooved teeth. It contains 14 genera, mostly of Africa 
and the East Indies. Some of the commonest snakes of 
India belong here. Also Lycodontince, as a subfamily of 
Colubridce. 
lycodontine (H-ko-don'tin), a. and n. [< li/co- 
dont + -tne 1 .] Same as lyeodont. 
Lycoperdacese (ll"ko-per-da'se-e), n.pl. [NL. 
(Corda, 1842). < Li/coperdon + -acete.'] An or- 
der of gasteromycetous fungi, typified by the 
genus Lycoperdon. 
Lycoperdon (li-ko-per'don), n. [NL., < Gr. 
'/.iiKOf, a wolf, + ' nepdeadai, break wind.] A 
genus of gasteromycetous fungi, founded by 
Tournefort in 1700, and typical of the order 
Lycoperdaceas. It is characterized by having the glob- 
ular, membranaceous peridium double, the outer part of 
which breaks up into warts, spines, 
etc., while the inner part is more or 
less solid. The spores are globose, 
short-caudate, and variously color- 
ed. The species, of which more than 
100 are known, are very widely dis- 
tributed, and sometimes are of very 
large size. They are popularly 
known as pu/balls. L. gemmatum, 
the common puffball, acts mechan- 
ically as a styptic, by means of its 
brown spores. L. giganteum, the 
giant puflball, when dry, stanches 
slight wounds, and its smoke 
stupefies bees. In a young state 
it is edible. See basidium, cut, 
flg. c. Lycoperdon nuts, the 
herbalists' name under which cer- 
tain subterranean fungi of the 
genus Elaphomyces were formerly known and sold. 
Lycopersicum (li-ko-per'si-kum), n. [NL., < 
Gr. *\vKmepain6v (as if < ?.w/cof , a wolf, + nepaiK6<;, 
the peach: see peach 1 ), a false reading of /li>- 
Koirtpaiov, an Egyptian plant with a strong- 
smelling yellow juice.] A genus of plants of the 
natural order Solanacece and the tribe Solanece,. 
It differs from Solanum, with which it is closely allied, 
by having long, acuminate, connate anthers, opening on 
the inside by a longitudinal fissure. They are unarmed 
herbs with irregularly pinnate leaves, weak stems, five- or 
rarely six-parted flowers, with a rotate corolla, and growing 
in few-flowered cymes. The fruit is a fleshy globose or pear- 
shaped berry, usually red or yellow, and with numerous 
seeds embedded in the pulp. There are three or four species, 
natives of South America, but now widely cultivated and 
to some extent naturalized elsewhere. The most impor- 
tant is L. etsculentum, the common tomato, formerly called 
love-apple, which has been very much modified by culture. 
Its fruit, naturally of two or three cells, is often much com- 
plicated by a consolidation of blossoms. See tomato. 
lycopod (li'ko-pod), n. [< NL. Lycopodium, 
q. v.] A plant of the natural order Lycopodi- 
aceie. 
lycopode (H'ko-ppd), n. [< NL. Lycopodium, 
q. v.] A highly inflammable yellow powder 
made up of the spores of species of Lycopodium, 
especially L. clavatum and L. Selago; vegetable 
brimstone. 
Lycopodiaceas (li-ko-p6-di-a'se-e),n.j3Z. [NL. 
(A. P. de Candolle, 1815), < Lycopodium + 
-acece.] An order of cryptogamous plants, be- 
longing to the class Lycopodinece, and typified 
by the genus Lycopodium. The order includes the 
homosporous Lycopodiaceae, which produce spores of only 
one kind (subdivided into the Lycopodiece with the genus 
Lycopodium and the Phyttoglossete with the genus Phyl- 
loglosgum), and the heterosporous Lycopodiaceas, which 
produce spores of two kinds. The latter subdivision, 
which is typified by the genus Lepidodendron, is found 
only in a fossil state. 
lycopodiaceous (13-ko-p6-di-a'shius), a. [< NL. 
Lycopodiace((E) + -os.] Belonging to or re- 
sembling the Lycopodiacece. 
Lycopodieae (li'ko-po-di'e-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Goebel (1), 1882), < Lycopodium + -ece.'] A sub- 
order of Lycopodiacere, containing the genus 
Lycopodium. 
Lycopodineae (li // ko-po-din'e-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Swartz, 1806), < Lycopodium + -inete.'] A class 
of eryptogamous plants, including the orders 
Lycopodiaceae, Psilotacew, and Ligulatece. 
lycopodite (U-kop'o-dlt), . [< NL. Lycopo- 
dium, q. v., + -te 2 .] A fossil plant of the ge- 
nus Lycopodium. 
Lycopodium (li-ko-po'di-um), . [NL., so 
named from the appearance of the roots ; < Gr. 
Avuof, a wolf, + mvf (m><!-) = E./oof.] A genus 
of vascular cryptogamous plants, the type of 
the order Lycopodiaceai. They are low plants, usual- 
ly of moss-like aspect, with evergreen, one-nerved leaves 
arranged in one to sixteen ranks. The sporangia are cori- 
aceous, reniform, compressed, one-celled, dehiscing trans- 
versely, situated in the axils of unaltered leaves or in ter- 
minal bracteate spikes. Thesporesarecopiousandminute, 
with three lines radiating from the apex. The genus is very 
3552 
widely distributed, and contains 94 species, of which 12 
are found in North America. L. dendroideum is the well- 
known ground-pine ; L. clavatum is the common club- 
moss, or running pine, which is extensively employed in 
decorations. This species has also been called slag's-horn, 
Imk's-harn, fox'i- 
claws, foxtail, 
etc. L. Sclago is 
sometimes called 
fir-moss, foxfeet, 
and tree-moss. 
Many fossil spe- 
cies have been 
found, those oc- 
curring in the Pa- 
leozoic strata be- 
ing preferably 
called lycopodites. 
Lycopsis (U- 
kop sis), n. 
[NL., < L. ly- 
copsis, < Gr. Ai>- 
KOTfiii;, the bu- 
gloss, a plant 
like the alka- 
net, < Ai'Kof, a 
wolf, + 6-<l>if, 
appearance.] 
A genus of 
boragiuaceous 
plants, of the 
tribe Boragew, 
distinguished 
by having the 
corolla - tube 
curved instead 
of straight. 
They are annual 
hairy or bristly 
herbs, with alter- 
nate leaves, five- 
parted flowers. 
lyed 
the species of which are mainly African, although two are 
found in North America, and a few in the East Indies and 
Australia. 
2 A genus of butterflies. Siibner, 1816. 
Lyda (li'da), n. [NL. (Fabricius, 1804), < Gr. 
Avdof, a Lydian : see Lydian.] A genus of saw- 
flies of the hymenopterous family Tentliredinidce, 
and typical of the subfamily Lydmai, having the 
(V) 
Lyda Hevadensis. (Twice natural size.) 
fore wings with two marginal cells and the long 
antennre setaceous in both sexes. The group is 
large and wide-spread, with 30 European and 
over 50 North American species. 
Lydella (li-del'a), n. [NL. , dim. of Lyda, q. v.] 
A genus of tachina-flies, of the family Tachi- 
nidce, founded by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. 
L. dorypfwrcB, the only American species, has been placed 
in the genus Exorista. It is parasitic upon the Colorado 
Lycopodium dendroideum. 
a, part of the spike, showing the sporangia 
in the axils of the scale-like leaves, seen from 
within ; b, spore, highly magnified. 
with five scales in the throat of the corolla, and fruit of 
four ovoid, erect nutlets. The flowers are small, violet or 
blue, and grow in terminal, leafy-bracted, scorpioid ra- 
cemes. Three or four species are known, natives of Eu- 
rope, northern Africa, and central and western Asia. One 
species, L. arvenm, the small bugloss, is a common weed 
in cultivated sandy fields in Europe, and is now estab- 
lished from Canada to Virginia in North America. 
LycopUS (H'ko-pus), w. [NL. (Tournef ort, 1700), 
so named from the appearance of the leaves; 
< Gr. Ai'Kof, wolf, + iroijf = E. foot.~] A genus 
of labiate plants of the tribe Satureineat and 
the subtribe Menthoidea;. It is characterized by a 
four- or nve-toothed calyx, a corolla-limb with four di- 
visions, the two anterior stamens perfect with the cells of 
the anthers at length diverging, and the nutlets sharply 
angled, and truncate at the apex. They are small herbs, 
growing in marshy places, with sharply toothed leaves, 
and small flowers in dense axillary whorls. About 10 
species have been enumerated, but some of these are 
probably only varieties ; they are found in North America 
and in the temperate regions of the Old World. L, Vir- 
ginicw is a common American species with some medi- 
cinal properties, called bugleweed. L. sinuatus, another 
common American species, was formerly identified with 
L. JHuroposus, the water-hoarhound or gipsy-herb (gipsy- 
wort), which is the ordinary European species, sometimes 
furnishing a substitute for quinine. 
Lycornis (ll-kor'nis), n. [NL., < Gr. /Iw/ccjf, a wolf, 
+ fyv<c, a bird.] A genus of South American 
coots of the 
family Rallidce 
and subfamily 
Fulicince, hav- 
ing the head ca- 
runculate. Bo- 
naparte, 1854. 
Also spelled Li- 
cornis. 
Lycosa (li-ko'- 
sa), n. [NL., < 
G"r. AVKOS, a kind of spider, lit. wolf: see Ly- 
c<Ea.] The typical genus of Lycosidce. L. 
piratiea is an example. L. tarantula, or Taran- 
tula apulm, is the well-known tarantula of 
southern Europe. 
Lycosidse (li-kos'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Lycosa + 
-idee.] A family of citigrade hunting-spiders; 
the wolf-spiders or tarantulas. They are active 
predatory spiders, capturing their prey by chasing, and 
spinning no web. The legs are long, especially the hinder 
pair,and the cephalothorax is narrowed in front ; the ocelli 
are usually in three rows ; the spinnerets are three pairs : 
the falces are vertical. The leading genera are Lycosa and 
Dolomedes. 
lycotropal (li-kot'ro-pal), a. [< Gr hums, a 
wolf, T TpoTrof, a turning: see trope.] In bot., 
curved downward like a horseshoe : applied to 
an orthotropal ovule. 
Lycus (li'kus), n. [NL. (Fabricius, 1787), < Gr. 
/lii/cof, a wolf.] 1. A genus of beetles of the 
family Malacodermida, having the head pro- 
longed like a rostrum with the antennse at its 
base, and the final joints of the antennre as 
long as the preceding ones. It is a large genus, 
Horned Coot (Lycornis cornuta). 
Lydella doryphora. (Cross shows natural size.) 
potato-beetle, and is probably more effectual than any 
other insect in checking this pest in Missouri. It resem- 
bles the common house-fly, but is distinguished by its 
brilliant silvery-white face. ftiiey.lstRep. Ins. Mo., p. 111. 
lydent, " A Middle English form of leden. 
Lydian (lid'i-an), a. and n. [< L. Lydia, < Gr. 
ADOKZ, < Aodof, a Lydian.] I. a. Of or pertain- 
ing to Lydia, an ancient country of Asia Minor, 
bordering on the J5gean sea, or to its inhabi- 
tants : as, the Lydian empire (including under 
Croesus, its last king, famous for his wealth, a 
large part of Asia Minor); Lydian coins; Ly- 
dian luxury. 
And ever, against eating cares, 
Lap me in soft Lydian airs. 
Milton, L' Allegro, 1. 136. 
Lydian mode. See made*. Lydian stone, the name 
given by ancient authors to the touchstone. It occurs as 
early as the time of Bacchylides (about 470 B. c.). The 
use of the Lydian stone for testing the quality of gold is 
minutely described by Theophrastus, and is also noticed at 
some length by Pliny. 
II. n. An inhabitant of ancient Lydia. 
M, " i- An obsolete spelling of lie 1 . 
lye a t, v. and n. An obsolete spelling of lie. 
lye 3 (11), n. [Formerly also lie, ley; < ME. ley, 
< AS. lean = MD. looghe, D. loog = MLG. LG. 
loge = OHG. Jouga, lauga, MHG. louge, G. lauge, 
lye; prob. akin to Icel. hiug, a warm bath, 
hence also a hot spring (much used in comp., 
e. g. lavgar-dag (= Sw. lordag = Dan. loverdag, 
Saturday), 'bath-day,' i. e. Saturday, the day 
appropriated by the Scandinavians to that 
exercise; laugar-aptan, laugar-natt, Saturday 
evening, Saturday night, etc.).] Water impreg- 
nated with alkaline salt imbibed from the ashes 
of wood by the process of leaching; also, some 
solution of an alkali, as potash, which is itself 
the product of leached lye concreted by evap- 
oration. Crude lye is used in making some coarse kinds 
of soap, for cleaning certain things, as inked printing-types 
and -rollers (though for these benzine is now more com- 
mon), and for various other purposes. In dilution it is 
used in a preparation of maize called hulled corn (which 
see, under hull, v. t.) and also lyed corn. 
Iye 4 t, n. A variant of to?/ 8 . 
lye B t, 11. Aii obsolete variant of lee 5 . 
lyed (lid), a. [< lycS + -c(P.~] Treated or pre- 
pared with lye. 
