BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
79 
1. —RAGGED ROBIN. (Lychnis Floscuculi, Lin.) 
Synonymes. —Cuckoo Flower ; Meadow Lychnis. Specific Character. —Petals in four linear segments. Capsule 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 573 ; 2nd cd., t. 664 ; and our fig. roundish, of one cell. Stem rough, with deflexed bristles. (Smith.) 
4, in PI. 18. 
Description, &c.— This species is one of the most common of the British flowers; and it is particularly 
abundant in moist meadows, where it flowers early in June. Notwithstanding the somewhat ragged appearance 
of its deeply cut petals, its flowers are very ornamental from their dark rose-colour. The stem is hairy, and 
covered with a glutinous moisture on the upper part. The following lines on this flower are by Miss Twamley:— 
“ A man of taste is Robinet, 
A dandy, spruce and trim : 
Whoe’er would dainty fashions set, 
Should go and look at him. 
Rob scorns to wear his crimson coat 
As common people do, 
He folds and fits it in and out, 
And does it bravely too. 
Oh ! Robin loves to prank him rare, 
With fringe and flounce, and all; 
Till you’d take him for a lady fair, 
Just going to a ball. 
Robin's a roguish, merry lad, 
He dances in the breeze, 
And looks up with a greeting glad 
To the rustling hedge-row trees.” 
2.—THE RED GERMAN CATCHFLY. (Lychnis viscaria, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 788 ; 2nd ed., t. 667 ; and om fig. 5, | Specific Character. —Viscid. Petals slightly cloven. Capsule 
in PI. 18. I stalked, of five cells. Leaves fringed at the base. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very handsome species grows in the dry fissures of rocks. It is generally found in 
Scotland and Wales, but it is rare in the other parts of Great Britain. It grows in tufts, the stems being about 
a foot high. The flowers, which appear in May and June, are very ornamental: they are generally of a deep 
rose-colour, but sometimes they are of a pure white ; and there are double-flowered varieties, of both colours, in 
the gardens. The cultivated varieties of this species are very suitable for rockvvork. 
3.—THE RED CAMPION. 
Synonymes.— L. dioica, Lin. ; L. diurna, Sihth. ; L. dioica rubra, 
Smith ; Bachelor’s Buttons; Meadow Pink ; Wild Sweet William. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1579 ; 2nd ed., t. 665. 
(Lychnis sylvestris, Hoppe.) 
Specific Character.— Flowers red, usually dioecious, in dichoto¬ 
mous panicles. Petals half-cloven, with narrow diverging lobes. Cap¬ 
sules roundish, with recurved valves. Leaves ovate or lanceolate. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —This species is very common under hedges, or in any situation that is partially shaded, 
in all the clayey districts of Great Britain; but it is seldom found in chalky soils. The stems grow generally 
about two feet high; and the flowers, which are produced in panicles, are pink, and bear considerable 
resemblance to those of the Ragged Robin, except that their petals are not so deeply cut. There is a double- 
flowered variety, which is common in the gardens. 
4.— THE WHITE CAMPION. (Lychnis vespertina, Sihth.) 
Synonymes.— L. dioica, Lin.; L. dioica alba, Smith. panicles. Petals half cloven, with broad converging lobes. Capsules 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1580 ; 2nd ed., t. 666. conical, with erect valves. Leaves ovate. (Dec.) 
Specific Character. —Flowers white, dioecious, in dichotomous 
Description, &c. —This species was confounded by Linnaeus, under the name of Lychnis dioica, with the 
Red Campion, though, to a common observer, no two plants can appear more distinct; the flowers of the Red 
