Silene latifolia Poir.

Biennial or short-lived perennial, with stout taproot. Stems unbranched or branched below, with soft eglandular hairs, becoming also glandular above, (15)–30–60–(130) cm tall. Lvs with soft eglandular hairs, green, lanceolate to ovate, acute to acuminate, petiolate, becoming sessile above; lamina (2)–4–8–(15) × (0.5)–1–2–(4) cm. Infl. a (3)–7–10–(20)-flowered dichasium, sometimes unequally branched; pedicels 1–5 cm long; bracts lanceolate, acute, green. Fls unisexual. Calyx with short to long glandular and eglandular hairs: calyx in ♂ 10-veined, cylindric, 12–18 mm long; calyx in ♀ 20-veined, ovoid, 17–25 mm long; teeth linear-acuminate, erect or recurved. Petals white; limb 2-fid, rarely 4-lobed; claw lobed at base of limb; coronal scales oblong, 2-fid, 2 mm long in ♂, 0.5 mm long in ♀. Styles 5, erect or recurved at apex, 12–20 mm long. Capsule ovoid, included or c. = calyx, 14–20 mm long; teeth 10, erect or spreading; carpophore very short. Seeds dull dark grey, triangular or reniform, flattened, warty, 1.2–1.4 mm long.

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

Flowering: (Oct.)–Nov.–Mar.–(Apr.); Fruiting: (Nov.)–Dec.–Apr.