LY'THRUM VIRGA'TUM. 
FINE-BRANCHED LYTHRUM. 
Class. Order. 
DODECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
SALICARIjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Austria. 
3 feet. 
July, Aug. 
Perennial. 
in 1776. 
No. 134. 
This genus has received its name from its flowers 
bearing- the appearance of clotted blood, which is 
signified by the Greek word luthron, from which 
is derived our Ly thrum. Virgatum from the Latin 
virga, a twig ; which is intended as expressive of its 
mode of growth, the whole plant being composed of 
straight twiggy branches. 
The Lvthrum virgatum is light and showy, and 
well adapted for the foreground of the shrubbery, 
or to mingle with the tall herbaceous subjects in the 
flower garden. 
It is itself herbaceous, somewhat less gay than 
the Lythrum salicaria, or common Willow Herb, but 
is preferable in its general habit. It is neither so 
rambling nor intrusive ; nor is its increase more rapid 
than could be wished. 
It is very easily propagated by a division of its 
roots, which may be performed at any time whilst 
the plant is out of blossom. Like the Willow Herb, 
it flourishes in almost any soil or aspect, but most 
so in low and moist situations, or where it is, in a 
moderate degree, shaded by the larger ornaments of 
the shrubbery. 
Hort. Kevv. 2, v. 3, 149. 
