Pl. lychnides. [L., a. Gr. λυχνίς some red flower, f. λύχνος lamp.]
1. Bot. A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, including the Campion and Ragged Robin.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 110. As touching Lychnis, that naming hearbe surnamed Flammea [etc.].
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort., May (1679), 17. Flowers in Prime, or yet lasting … yellow Lillies, Lychnis, Jacea, Bellis, double, white and red.
1707–12. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 229. Lychnis or Calcedon are single and double.
1824. H. Phillips, Flora Hist., II. 183. The Scarlet Lychnis is a perennial plant.
1884. Jefferies, in Chamb. Jrnl., 1 March, 131/1. The pink lychnis or ragged robin grows among the grasses.
2. With defining word, applied by gardeners to various plants of other genera: see quots.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 318. Lychnis, Bastard, Phlox. Lychnis, Wild, Agrostema.
1787. trans. Linnæus’ Fam. Plants, I. 116. Phlox.… False Lychnis.
