lychnis

[ lik-nis ]

noun

1. any showy-flowered plant belonging to the genus Lychnis, of the pink family.

lychnis

/ ˈlɪknɪs /

noun

1. any caryophyllaceous plant of the genus Lychnis, having red, pink, or white five-petalled flowers See also ragged robin

Word History and Origins

Origin of lychnis¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek lychnís red flower, akin to lýchnos lamp

Word History and Origins

Origin of lychnis¹

C17: New Latin, via Latin, from Greek lukhnis a red flower; related to lukhnos lamp

Example Sentences

The pink lychnis or ragged robin grows among the grasses; the iris flowers higher on the shore.

From Project Gutenberg

They do not occur in male Lychnis dioica, but next spring I will look to male holly flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

I formerly fancied that I observed female Lychnis dioica seeded without pollen.

From Project Gutenberg

And where the sunlight is less broken by the trees there are patches of red lychnis and tall crowns of white cow parsley.

From Project Gutenberg

The Red Campion (Lychnis diurna) is common on the banks of wayside ditches, as well as in copses and other moist and shady places.

From Project Gutenberg