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BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
GENUS Y. 
THE LOOSE-STRIFE. (Lysimachia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx five-parted. Corolla rotate, five-cleft. Stamens five. Capsule globose, with five or ten valves, (if. Br.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this genus differ considerably in their habits of growth, some of 
the plants growing erect, with the flowers in clusters, and others being trailing or creeping plants, with their 
flowers produced singly. The name of Lysimachia is derived from Lysimachus ; and that of Loose-strife alludes 
to the belief that was formerly entertained that a decoction of this herb would make the wildest beasts tame, and 
prevent them from fighting each other. The species are divided into two sections. 
§ 1 .—Stalks many-flowered. 
1.—THE GREAT YELLOW LOOSE-STRIFE. (Lysimachia vulgaris, Lin.) 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 761 ; '2nd ed., t. 283. 
Specific Character. — Clusters panicled, terminal. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute. ( Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very handsome plant is a native of shady watery places, and the banks of rivers, 
where it rears its tall erect stem above the tufts of reeds among which it grows. It is a perennial, and flowers 
in July; and as it has a creeping underground stem, it is easily propagated. It grows in gardens in dry soil, 
notwithstanding the moist situations in which it is always found in a wild state. 
THE TUFTED LOOSE-STRIFE. (L. thyrsiflora, Lin.) 
This species is common in Scotland, but very rare in England. It is a perennial, growing about two feet 
high, and producing its small speckled yellow flowers all the summer. 
§ 2.— Stalks single-flowered. 
2.—THE WOOD LOOSE-STRIFE, OR YELLOW PIMPERNEL. (Lysimachia nemorum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eug. Bot., t. 527 ; 2nd ed., t. 285 ; and our fig. 5, in PL 46. 
Specific Character. —Leaves ovate, acute. Flowers solitaiy. Stem procumbent. Stamens smooth. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This graceful and elegant little plant is often found hanging about the trees or covering 
the banks in moist shady groves, where it flowers from May to September. It is a perennial. 
3.—MONEYWORT, OR HERB TWOPENCE. (Lysimachia Nummularia, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 528 ; 2nd ed., t. 286. 
Specific Character. —Leaves somewhat heart-shaped. Flowers solitary. Stem prostrate, creeping. Stamens glandular. (Smith.) 
Description, Sic. —The Moneywort is found growing on the wet banks of ditches, or creeping over the 
black boggy or mossy soil of very wet meadows, where it produces abundance of its bright yellow flowers in 
June and July. It is a perennial, with a creeping stem, that never rises more than a few inches from the 
ground. 
THE FOUR-LEAVED LOOSE-STRIFE. (L. punctata, Lin.) 
This is probably only a variety of L. vulgaris , which it closely resembles. 
