lei cells, opening lengthways, and sometimes divergent at
the hase. Ovarium ohlong, marked with 5 furrows. Stigmas
5, semi-cylindrical, recurved at the top, papillose along the
iiiner surface. Capsule rounded, ovate, one-celled. Placenta
central, free, fungous, ohlong, tuherculated. Seeds nearly
orbicular, quite smooth, attached to the placenta by an
elongated process. , .
This pretty little plant is extremely local in its native
country, being limited to one spot only on the western P y renees,
as we are informed by our friend, Dr. Macreight,
who, together with his accomplished lady, has surveyed the
botanical treasures of that interesting mountam-range. It
was first described by M. Bergeret, in his “ Flore des Pyrénées,”
but we believe no figure Has yet been published of
it. I t is a hardy perennial, is increased byyeeds or by
slips, and is admirably suited for a rock-work ;* but the preferable
mode is to keep the plants in pots, and under the
protection of a pit or frame in Winter. They should be
planted in a mixture of sandy loam and peat, and in smallsized
pots, as they are apt to suifer from damp.
The greater or less degree of cohesion between the sepals,
the number of styles, and the absence or presence of
partitions in the capsule, (characters, which, in less natural
families, would be reckoned of comparative little value,)
afford almost the only tangible ones among the Coryophylkæ;
and although the genera, thus constructed, may appear extremely
artificial, yet it is necessary to adhere to some general
rule, and I have, therefore, considered Agrostemma and
Lychnis as constituting two distinct genera ; for unless we
are prepared to unite the whole of the SilcncOE into one, these
two, in my opinion, are entitled to be kept apart. In Visca-
ria and alpina, which may be reckoned the typical species
of Lychnis, the ovarium is constantly 5-celled, and the same
is also the case in dioica, which forms the type of the aberrant
group of the genus. The Chalccdonica,fulgcns, and
some others, having an unilocular ovarium, are really species
of Agrostemma, with the normal ones of which their habit
entirely accords. To the latter genus belongs also Lychnis
ños cuculi. .
Drawn at the Chelsea Botanic Garden, in June last.
The generic name is derived from aypoe, a field, and
(TTEppa, a crown, the same as the Latin name Coronaria, literally
meaning rustic crown, from the flowers of some species
of this genus having formed part of the rustic garlands
among the ancient Greeks. D. Don.
1. Radical leaf. 2. Stamens and Pistil. 3. P e ta l. 4. Capsule. 5. Seed.