Wild Lychnis, or Campion: A genus of the pentagynia order, belonging to the de- candria class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 2nd order, Caryophyllae. The char- acters are: The calyx is a single-leaved perianthium, leathery, tubular, quinquedentated, and persistent; The corolla consists of five unguled petals: The sta- mina have ten filuated filaments; the antherae are simple: The pistillum has an egg-shaped germen; the style are five, filiform, erect, and the length of the filamenta; the stigmata are simple: The pericarpium is an oblong covered capsule, having two cells and five valves: The seeds are numerous and kidney-shaped; the receptacula are as many as the seeds, the interior ones gradually longer.

Species. The most remarkable are, 1. The githago, hairy wild lychnis, or common campion, which grows naturally in corn-fields in most parts of Britain. The flowers appear in June, are generally purple, sometimes white, and by cultivation yellow.

2. The coronaria, or single-rose campion. Of this species there are four varieties; one with deep red, another with flesh-coloured, a third with white, flowers; and a sort with double flowers, which has turned most of the others out of the gardens.

3. The flox jovis, or umbelliferous mountain-campion, grows naturally upon the Helvetian mountains. It is a low plant with woolly leaves; the flower-stem rises near a foot high; the flowers grow in umbels on the top of the stalk, and are of a bright red colour. They appear in July, and the seeds ripen in September.

Culture. The first and third species are annual plants, so must be propagated by seeds; but as the first is found naturally in corn-fields, it is very seldom cultivated in gardens; the third sort should have a faddy situation, and thrives best in a strong soil. The second species is perennial, but only those varieties which have single flowers produce any seeds; the double kind, therefore, as it produces no seeds, must be pro- pagated by parting the roots in autumn, after the flowers are past. In doing this, every head which can be clipped off with roots should be parted: these should be planted in a border of fresh undugged earth, at the distance of six inches one from the other, observing to water them gently until they have taken root; after which they will require no more; for much wet is very injurious to them, as is also dung. In this border they may remain till spring, when they should be planted in the borders of the flower-garden, where they will be very ornamental during the time of their flowering, which is in July and August.—This plant is eat by horses, goats, and sheep.