Lychnis
(the old Greek name given by Theophrastus to this or a similar plant, from lychnos, a lamp, perhaps referring to the brilliancy of the flowers). Rose Campion. Including Agrostemma, Githago, Meladrium, Petrocoptis, and Viscaria. ORD. Caryophylleae. A genus comprising about thirty species of ornamental hardy annual or perennial plants, widely spread over the Northern hemisphere without the tropics. The general characters of this genus are those of Silene, from which it differs in having five styles; calyx inflated, five-toothed, ten-nerved; capsule septicidal, opening by as many teeth as there are styles; seeds with small tubercles; the petals also usually have an appendage at the base of the blade. All the species are of very easy culture, thriving in almost any ordinary garden soil, but succeeding best in a light, rich loam. Propagation is readily effected in spring, by divisions, or by seeds. All the species described below are perennials.
L. alpina (Alpine).* fl. pink, disposed in close, compact heads, 1/2in. in diameter; petals narrow, deeply two-cleft; calyx short. Spring and summer. l. crowded, linear-lanceolate, slightly fringed; lower ones tufted. h. 6in. Alps of Europe (Britain). (B. M. 394.)
L. chalcedonica (Chalcedonican).* fl. scarlet, in dense corymbose clusters; calyx round, clubbed, ribbed. Summer. l. lanceolate, slightly cordate at base, pilose, stem-clasping. h. 1 1/2ft. to 3 1/2ft. Russia, &c., 1593. A well-known and deservedly favourite plant, of which there are several varieties, including double white and double red. It thrives best in a sandy loam, enriched with well-rotted manure. The single forms, white and red, may be propagated by seed, which ripens very freely, and is practically self-sowing. The double kinds should be divided early in spring. (B. M. 257.)
L. coronaria (crowned).* fl. red; petals emarginate; calyx sub-campanulate, costate; peduncles elongated, one-flowered. July. l. broadly lanceolate, coriaceous. h. 3ft. South Europe, 1596. (B. M. 24.) L. diurna (day-flowering).* Bachelors' Buttons; Common Red Lychnis; Red Campion. fl. purplish-rose; panicle terminal, many-flowered; calyx very hairy. Spring to autumn. l. opposite, lower ones obovate-spathulate, upper ones oval-elliptical h. 1ft. to 3ft. Northern hemisphere (Britain). (Sy. En. B. 211, under name of Silene diurna.) A showy and pretty plant under cultivation; the double from, however, is the more attractive one, and is one of the best plants of this genus for borders. It is increased only by divisions.
L. Flos-cuculi. Cuckoo Flower; Ragged Robin. fl. red; panicle loose, terminal, forked, clammy; calyx purplish-red, the ten ribs darker; petals divided into four linear segments, the middle one the longest. Summer. l. few, linear-lanceolate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Europe (Britain), Siberia. A well-known and common plant, occurring in nearly all marshy places. (Sy. En. B. 212.) The double-flowered form is a most desirable plant for borders.
L. flos-Jovis (Flower of Jove). A synonym of Agrostemma flos-Jovis.
L. fulgens (brilliant).* fl. brilliant vermilion, large, handsome, disposed in fastigiate corymbs; petals four-cleft, outer segments awl-shaped; calyx terete, woolly. Spring and summer. l. ovate-lanceolate, hairy. h. 6in. to 12in. Siberia, 1822. (B. M. 2104.)
L. f. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. scarlet, about 2in. across, solitary, or in threes, terminal and axillary; petals prettily lacerated. Summer and autumn. l. ovate, almost sessile, smooth. h. 8in. to 12in. China, 1774. This variety requires a warm border.
L. f. Haageana (Haage's).* fl. brilliant scarlet, about 2in. across, in twos or threes; petals broadly obovate, indented on the top, and furnished with two long teeth at the side; calyx shaggy, inflated, angular. Summer. l. large, lanceolate, acuminate, hairy, purplish underneath. Stems very shaggy. A garden hybrid, probably from L. fulgens. It is a showy and exceedingly handsome border plant. (R. G. 391.) There are numerous varieties of it, affording nearly every shade of colour, from scarlet to pure white. L. f. Sieboldi (Siebold's). fl. pure white, very large; cyme contracted, terminal, few-flowered; petals wedge-shaped, irregular, margins jagged, slightly two-lobed. Summer. l. sessile, lower ones oblong, middle and upper ones ovate-oblong, acute, entire, soft and downy. h. 1ft. Japan.
L. Lagascae (Lagasca's).* fl. bright rose, with white centres, less than 1in. in diameter. Spring and summer. l. obovate or oblong, somewhat coriaceous, slight glaucous. h. 3in. Pyrenees, 1867. An elegant little compact-growing and tufted plant for rockwork; it thrives best on sunny slopes. SYN. Petrocoptis pyrenaica. (B. M. 5746.)
L. oculata (eyed). fl. pinkish-purple, the emarginate petals having an intense purple spot at the base; appendage shortly ovate; calyx suddenly contracted below the middle, the angles clavate, rugoso-crispate. July. Algiers, 1843. SYN. Viscaria oculata (under which name it is figured in B. M. 4075 and B. R. 1843, 53).
L. Preslii (Presl's). fl. purplish, nearly 1in. in diameter, numerously produced in forked, panicled cluster, and having reddish bracts; corona fringed, satiny-rose; calyx reddish, much inflated. Summer. l., root ones numerous, oval-lanceolate or obovate acuminated, decurrent, in rosettes; those of the stem oval obtuse, entire, much-veined, dark green. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Bolivia.
L. pyrenaica (Pyrenean).* fl. pale flesh-colour, about 1/2in. across, disposed in forked clusters; pedicels long, one-flowered; petals slightly notched; calyx bell-shaped. Summer. l. opposite, glaucous, root ones spathulate, those of the stem cordate, sessile. h. 3in. to 4in. Pyrenees, 1819. (B. M. 3269.)
L. vespertina (evening-flowering).* fl. white, emitting a pleasant odour in the evening, and disposed in loose terminal panicles; calyx over 1/2in. long, hairy, ribbed; petals cleft. Summer. l. opposite, connate, oval-oblong, acuminated, tapering at the base, hairy. Stems purplish, swelling at the joints. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Europe (Britain), Asia, &c. The double-flowered form is that most usually cultivated.
L. Viscaria (clammy).* German Catch-fly. fl. rosy, in close heads; petals bifid; calyx tubular, narrow, about 1/2in. long. Summer. l. opposite, narrow-lanceolate, with a slightly woolly fringe at the base. Stems smooth, clammy in the upper part h. 1ft. Europe (Britain), Siberia. There are several very desirable varieties of this pretty plant; the double-flowered from, and the one with deep red flowers, known as splendens, are especially so.