lychnis

noun

lych·​nis ˈlik-nəs 

: any of a genus (Lychnis) of north-temperate zone herbs of the pink family with terminal cymes of showy mostly red or white flowers having five or rarely four styles

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, a red flower, from Greek; akin to Greek lychnos lamp, Latin lux light — more at light

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above