Silene gallica L.

Taprooted annual. Stems simple or branching, (3)–15–45 cm tall; hairs long and eglandular below becoming mixed with sparse to dense short eglandular hairs above. Lvs hispid, with shorter hairs on margins, green, oblong to oblanceolate, subacute to obtuse; lower lvs cuneately tapered to petiole, 20–60 × 5–15 mm; upper lvs sessile, becoming lanceolate, acute, smaller. Infl. usually a single (1)–5–15-flowered spike-like monochasium, rarely of paired monochasia and then without a fl. in the axil between them, elongating at fruiting; pedicels 2–10 mm long; bracts linear, acute, green. Fls ☿. Calyx with dense short glandular hairs and sparse long eglandular hairs, cylindric at flowering, ovoid at fruiting, 10-veined, 7–10 mm long; teeth linear, erect. Petals white, pink or red or red-spotted, entire or emarginate; claw not lobed; coronal scales oblong, subacute, 1.5 mm long. Styles 3, erect, 2 mm long. Capsule ovoid, c. = calyx, 7–10 mm long, dehiscing by 6 curved teeth; carpophore c. 0.5 mm long. Seeds dark brown, reniform with hollow faces and flat backs, ridged, c. 0.8 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Jul.)–Oct.–Feb.–(Jun.); Fruiting: (Jul.)–Oct.–Feb.–(Jun.)