Silene pendula L.

Taprooted annual. Stems ascending, with glandular and fine eglandular hairs, 20–40 cm tall. Lvs with glandular and eglandular hairs, green, obovate-spathulate below, lanceolate and acute above, shortly connate in pairs, (10)–15–40 × (5)–8–20 mm. Infl. a lax 5–8-flowered raceme-like monochasium; pedicels erect at flowering, patent or pendent at fruiting, 10–20 mm long; bracts narrow-lanceolate, acute, green. Fls ☿. Calyx cylindric at flowering, clavate, inflated and contracted at mouth at fruiting, often pink, (11)–12–16 mm long, with short dark glandular hairs on the 10 prominent veins, and fine white subappressed eglandular hairs; teeth triangular-obtuse, erect. Petals pink, emarginate; claw lobed at base of limb; coronal scales obtuse, c. 1 mm long. Styles 3, c. 8 mm long. Capsule ovoid, included in calyx; teeth 6; carpophore 3–6 mm long. Seeds blackish, subglobose, warty, c. 1.3 mm long.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Mar.; Fruiting: Dec.–Mar.