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status
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
27th June 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
Grows about 2 feet tall. Leaves in opposite pairs up white hairy stems. The basal leaves have stems which the stem leaves lack. |
27th June 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers bright reddish-purple, with rays of white streaking outwards. |
27th June 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
Five petals overlap on the anti-clockwise edge. |
24th July 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
The whitish streaks, perhaps three to a petal, radiate outwards from the centre but don't get a third of the way before fading away. The throat has perhaps ten short 'teeth' protruding from the centre, guarding the inside. |
24th July 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
The seed capsule is also very hoary hairy with five major flanges. |
27th June 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
The greyish green leaves are slightly woolly on the upper surface. The stems so covered in long white hairs as to appear almost white. |
27th June 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
The seed capsule and the rear of the pointed leaves are also covered in longish white hairs. |
8th Dec 2009, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
The seed capsule in December, the seeds probably still within. |
Some similarities to : Red Campion and to Corncockle, all members of the same family. Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature :
No relation to : any The Genus Lychnis is now subsumed within the Genus Silene, thus Ragged-Robin and Rose Campion are now seen as Campions. The casual observer is more likely to find Rose Campion growing in someones' garden than wild. It is a biennial, being mostly leafy in the first year with perhaps only a few flowers, and flowering profusely in the second before setting seed in the winter. By the third season it is in decline but will have sown seeds about the location to succeed it. Apart from the petals, the whole plant has longish white hairs, appearing greyish green. It self-seeds readily and prolifically. The five petals are half-way between red and purple, being neither in particular. The flowers reputedly open up one at a time and for but one day only, although your author is not convinced that this is so. The following paragraph is now obsolete, seeing as the Genus Lychnis as been subsumed into the Genus Silene (Campions): The felt-like leaves were formerly used for lamp wicks, hence the scientific name 'Lychnis' derived from the Ancient Greek word for 'lamp'.
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coronaria ![]() |
⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ |
Caryophyllaceae ![]() |
![]() Silene (Campions) |
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