What is "lychnis"

Lychnis \Lych"nis\, n. [L., a kind of red flower, Gr. lychni`s; cf. ly`chnos a lamp.] (Bot.) A genus of Old World plants belonging to the Pink family ( Caryophyllace[ae]). Most of the species have brilliantly colored flowers and cottony leaves, which may have anciently served as wicks for lamps. The botanical name is in common use for the garden species. The corn cockle ( Lychnis Githago) is a common weed in wheat fields.

n. mostly perennial herbs with sticky stems that catch insects; widespread in north temperate zone [syn: catchfly]

Lychnis is a genus of 15-25 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. The genus is closely related to (and sometimes included in) Silene, differing in the flowers having five styles (three in Silene), the seed capsule having five teeth (six in Silene), and in the sticky stems of Lychnis. Common names include "campion" (shared with Silene) and "catchfly", the latter name based on the sticky stems.

The lychnis (Hadena bicruris) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in northern and western Europe.Also Turkey.It has an Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution.In the East Palearctic it is replaced by Hadena capsincola.

This species has dark brown forewings marked with two prominent white-bordered stigmata and a white subterminal line. The hindwings are buffish, darkening to brown towards the margin but with a prominent white fringe. The wingspan is 30–40 mm. One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen between May and September. Flight is from June to July.

The larva feeds on various Caryophyllaceae such as Dianthus, Lychnis, Saponaria and Silene. The species overwinters as a pupa.