lamprachenium

[Gr. lampros =bright, brilliant, and Mod. Lat. (a) chœnium (q. v.).] Bot.: A genus of Composites. Lamprachænium microcephalum, an Indian plant, is said by Dymock to be used medicinally as an aromatic bitter. lăm-prěl, lăm-pron, s. [LAMPREY.] lăm-prey, *lam-pre ye, s . [Fr. lamproie ; Prov. lampreza , lamprea , lamprada ; Sp. & Port. lam pre a ; Ital, lampreda , from Lat.lampetra =the lamprey, from lambo =to lick, and petra =a rock. So called from attaching itself by its mouth to rocks.] 1. ( Sing .): The genus Petromyzon. There are two dorsal fins, both far back on the body. The Sea, or Spotted Lamprey, Petromyzon mar in us , is an eel-like fish, nearly three feet long, greenish brown, marbled with darker brown and green on the back and sides. It attaches itself to rocks, boats, and to other fishes, by the mouth, exhausting the air. It is found in this country, in England and Africa. The Fringe-lipped Lamprey ( Petromyzon branchial is) is called also the Sandpiper (q. v.), the River Lamprey, and the Lampern (q. v.). "There were found in Cæsar's fish-ponds, lampreyes to have lived threescore years." -Bacon: Hist . Life and Death , $11. 2. ( Pl .): The family Petromyzontidæ. It consists of eel-like fishes, with a naked skin and undergoing a metamorphosis. Their larval form was taken for a distinct fish, and was called Ammocætes. In this form the head is very small, the mouth toothle and surrounded by fringed barbels, and the eye small and hidden in a groove. In the third of fourth year maturity is reached.