Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Supplement, Volume 1.djvu/1041

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  • LYC

tern-like fycspbdtoiaes with dentated leaves, and cylindric and very much branched ftalks. This grows on the conti- nent, as well as in the iflands of America, in wet places. 3. The upright acacia leaved fern lyeopodioides with fulcated ftalks. This is an Eaft-Indian mofs, and is found in Ma- labar, and other parts. 4. The fma!l upright fern-like ly- topodioidcs with denticulated leaves. This alfo is ail oriental mofs, and is commonly brought from China. 5. The fpleenwort-like lyftpotfmdcs, or fycopodwdes with auriculated leaves. This alfo is found in the Eaft-Indics. 6. The forked yew leaved lyeopodioides. This is found in fome parts of America. 7. The fmaller forked did* lyeopodioides with denticulated leaves. This was found by Plumier in the ifland of St. Domingo. 8. The fcaly lyeopodioides with curled points. This is a native of the Eaft-Indies. Id. Ibid. p. 473. See Tab. of Modes, N» 15.

LYCOPODIUM, in botany, the name of a genus of modes, the characters of which are thefe. It produces capfules in the alae of certain leaves, Which are very unlike the cap- fules of the other modes, having neither calypha, opercu- lum, nor pedicle. Thefe do not {land as thofe of the felago, in all the als of the leaves, but are collected to- gether into a fort of fpike of a fcaly ftructure, and one capfule ftands under every fcale, or leaf. Thefe capfules are of the fhape of a kidney, and when ripe, they fcparate longitudinally into two parts, and throw out a powder, confining of round globules. It has been fuppofed by many' that this powder is the farina of the flower; but as there are no feeds found in any other part of the plant for it to impregnate, it fecms a much more probable opinion, that this powder, as well as that of the capfules of all the other modes, is the true and genuine feed of the plant. In mod of the fpecies of this plant, the fpikes are compofed of leaves of a different figure from thofe of the reft of the plant, and are therefore called fcales ; but in fome they are made of leaves of the fame flgure with thofe of the other parts of the mofs. See Tab. 2. of Botany, N° 14. The firft order of the lycopodia, according to Dillenius, confifts of thofe which have their fpikes fupported on pe- dicles; and of thefe the firft feries are diftinguifhed by the appellation of julifera, from their fpikes refembling the juli, or catkins of fome trees, and being not of the fame leaves with the reft of the plant. Of thefe the following are all the known fpecies. r. The common wolf's claw mofs, or hairy rambling lycopodium. This has ftalks of a vaft length, and grows on heaths in many parts of Eng- land. 2. The creeping favin-like lycopodium, called by fome cyprefs mofs, or heath cyprefs. This is very common in Yorkfhire, and fome other parts of England, but not met with any where about London. 3. The long and round double forked lycopodium with finger'd arbor vita; leaves. This creeps on the ground, and is found in many parts of North America. 4. The tall double fquare forked lycopodi- um. This alfo is found in fome parts of America. 5. The crofs broad leaved lycopodium with flender forked fpikes. This is an Eaft-Indian mofs, found in Malabar, and in the ifland of Ceylon. 6. The creeping pinnated lycopodium with long pedicles and fpikes. This is the only fpecies of the lycopodia whofe fpikes ftand on pedicles, that has its leaves placed in the fame plane. The whole, or compound leaves are not more than an inch in length, and the pedicles of the fpikes much longer. This was found by Mr. Catefby in damp places in Carolina.

The fecond feries of the lycopodia comprehends thofe whofe fpikes confift of leaves, the fame with thofe of the other part of the plant. Of this feries there are only two known fpecies. 1. The fhort creeping bag lycopodium, with fingle creel: clubs or fpikes. This was firft found by Mr. Ray on Hampftead-hcath, but has flnce been met with in many other parts of England. 2. The fox-tail lycopodium fending roots from the ends of its branches.

The fecond order of the lycopodia comprehends thofe which have fpikes not placed on pedicles. Of thefe there are only three known fpecies. 1. The juniper leaved lycopodium with fingle footlcfs fpikes. This is found on the Welch mountains. 2. The fine leaved curled fhrub lycopodium with fhort drooping clubs. This grows in the ifland of St. Helena and in the Indies. 3. The fharp, fquare fpiked hoary, rock lycopodium. This grows on the rocks in Mary- land and Penfylvania.

LYCOPSIS, in the Linnaean fyftcm of botany, the name of a genus of plants, the characters of which are thefe : The cup is a periantbium, divided into five broad, oblong, acute, and open fegments, and remaining after the flower is fallen. The flower confifts of a fingle petal in form of a cylindric and crooked tube ; the rim of which is flightly divided into five fegments, and is obtufc. The opening is covered with five convex and prominent fcales, converging one towards another. The ftamina are five extremely fmall filaments, placed at the bending of the tube of the flower. The anthera are fmall and covered. The piftil has four germina. The ftyle is (lender, and of the length of the ftamina ; and the ftigma is obtufe and bifid. The cup is very large, and contains four oblong feeds. Linnxi Gen. PI. p. 61. SurpL. Vol. I.

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LYCOPUS, water lore hound, in botany, the name of a eenui of plants, the chara&ers of which are thefe. The flower confifts of one leaf, and is of the labiated kind; but, in fome degree, refembles the bell fafhioncd flowers ; for the uppef lip is fcarce at all to be diftinguifhed from the lower, fo that the flower appears it firft fight a tubular one, divided fimply into four fegments. The piftil arifes from the cup, and is fixed in the manner of a nail to the lower part of the flower. It is furrounded by four embryos, which after- wards become as many feeds of a roundifh form, and are contained in an open capfule, which was before the cup of the flower. Town. Lift. p. 10.0.

The fpeties of lycopus enumerated by Mr. Tollrnefort are thefe. 1. The fmooth water lycopus. 2. The hairy water lycopus. 3. The cut leaved Canada lycopus with fmooth leaves. 4. The water lycopus, with leaves very deeftly di- vided intn fegments. " In the Linnaian fyftcm of botany, the characters of this ge- nus of plants are, that the cup is a monophyllous, or one leaved perianthium, tubulated and marked with five notches' at the end, the fegments all narrow and acute. The flower is compofed of a fingle petal in form of a cylindric tube, of the length of the cup, the margin of which is indented by four notches, and is obtufe and fpread open. The feg- ments are all nearly equal in length, but the upper fome- what broader and rimmed round the edge, and the under narrower. The ftamina are two filaments fomething longer than the flower, and bent towards its upper iegment : the an- thers are very fmall. The piftil has a quadrifid gcrmen. The ftyle is thread like ftrait, and of the fame length with the ftamina. The ftigma is bifid and bent backward. It has properly no fruit, the cup remaining after the flower is fallen, and containing in its bottom the feeds which are roundifh, and four in number from each flower. Linnai Gen. PI. p.7.

LYCOS! APHY LJE, wolfs grapes, in botaily, a name given by fome of the Greek writers to the pomum amoris, a kind of efculent nightfhade, which we have mucti more propeily called lycopcrficcn, the wolfs peach ; its fruit being as lame as a peach, and in nothing refembling a grape: Some of the Latin authors we find have called this morelkj and fome who have not underftood this fynonymous ufe of the word, have miftaken the writers to have' meant the mufhroom we call morell, when they prefcribe this plant in fevers. The feeds of this plant are, however, what are ufually prefcribed in this cafe, and there is no danger therefore of their fubflitut- ing the morell mufhroom for itj" if they will flick to the letter of the text ; the feeds of that morella being too fmall to be gathered in fuch quantities as are prefcribed. .ffimilius Macer tells us, that the nightfhades, in general, were called by the name morella in his time : his Words are hcrbam quam Graci Jlrychnum dixcre, Latini morellam dicunt. The name morella feems to be formed upon the word morion, a name given both by the Greeks and Latins to one of the fleepy nightfhades, and to the male mandrake; of Diof- cbrides, which the fhepherds were fond of eating ; but which brought on fleepy diforders, if taken too largely.

LYCOSTOMTJS, in zoology, the name of a fifh caught in the Baltic, but not very frequently, and approaching fome- what to the nature of tile herring' or pilchard. It is ufually of five or fix inches long, and fo fat and flefhy, that its body is not flat, as all the herring kind have theirs, but rounded. Its fcales are very fmall and loofe, eafily falling off on rubbing. Its belly is white. Its fides of a filvery brightnefs, and its back blackiih. Its head is fmall and pointed, and its upper jaw is longer than the lower, which is alfo fharp, and falls into the upper as into a box. Its mouth is wide, and both the upper and lower jaw are fur- nifhed with fharp but fmall teeth. Schahefcld Hifr. Pifc. The name lycojlomus is given by Lilian, and many other of the Greek authors to the anchovy, called by others the cn- craulus and encra-ufcholus, and by the late writers encrafeolus. Artedi proves it to be only a fpecies of the herring or clupca, arid diftinguifhes it from the reft by the name of the clupca, with the upper jaw longelt.

LYCURGIA, Auxou^eia, in antiquity, a feftival celebrated by the Spartans in memory of Lycurgus, whom they honoured with a temple, and an anniverfary facrifice. Poller, Archseol. Gra-c. 1. 2. c. 20. T. 1. p. 413.

DYDIAN, {Cycl.) in antient mufic, the fecond fpecies of the diapafon. See Diapason.

LYD1UM marmor, a name given by the antients, not only to the black marble, ufed as a touch-ftohe to the trial of gold, tiV. but alfo to another very different one brought from the fame place ; the ground of which was red, and the veins, which were very numerous, and ufually beautifully difpofed, were white. This was an elegant marble, and was ufed in mod of the public buildings for pavements, and covering the inner fide of the walls.

LYDIUS lapis, in the natural hiftory of the antients, the name of the ftone ufed by way of touch-flone for the trial of gold and filver, and called alfo by fome heraclius lapis, both which names are alfo applied by the antients to the load-ftone, and hence have arifen no fmall mifunderftand- ings of their works. Pliny has obferved, that both the 15 Y load-