Silene viscaria
Silene viscaria | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
Genus: | Silene |
Species: | S. viscaria |
Binomial name | |
Silene viscaria | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Lychnis viscaria L. 1753 |
Silene viscaria, the sticky catchfly[2] or clammy campion,[3] is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae.
It is an upright perennial growing to 60 cm (24 in) in height. The leaves are lanceolate. The flowers, which are 20mm across and bright rosy-pink, appear in long whorled spikes from May to August. It grows on cliffs and rocky places.[4][5]
The Latin specific epithet viscaria means “sticky”, and refers to the stickiness of the stem just below the leaf joints.[6] The English common names reference the same feature.
S. viscaria is also grown as an ornamental garden plant. In British horticultural literature it is often referred to by its synonym Lychnis viscaria. The cultivar ‘Splendens Plena’, a double-flowered form, has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]
Lychnis viscaria is said to increase the disease resistance of surrounding plants. Extract from L. viscaria contains a relatively high amount of brassinosteroids, which have a proven positive effect on the growth of other plants. In Germany the extract is allowed for use as a "plant strengthening substance".
- Seed, background lines are 5 mm (0.20 in) apart
- Whorl of seed capsules, background lines are 5mm apart
- Seed capsule, viewed from side
- Seed capsule, viewed end on
References
- ↑ "The Plant List: Lychnis viscaria (L.)". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic Garden. 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ↑ "Online atlas of the British & Irish flora: Lychnis viscaria (Sticky catchfly)". Biological Records Centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ↑ "Lychnis viscaria". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ New Flora of the British Isles; Clive Stace; Third edition; 2011 printing
- ↑ The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe; Fitter, Fitter, Blamey; Collins; 3rd edition 1978
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
- ↑ "RHS Plantfinder -". Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 61. Retrieved 25 March 2018.