Red Campion
Silene dioica
The
plant has non-flowering shoots, and upright flowering stems.
NAME
Silenus, the drunken, merry god of the woodlands in Greek mythology,
gave his name to Silene dioica, the Red Campion.
The second part of its scientific name, dioica, means 'two houses',
and refers to the fact that each Red Campion plant has flowers of
one sex only, so that two plants are needed to make seed. Female flowers
have no stamens, while male flowers have only a small, non-functioning
ovary.
HABITAT
Abundant in most areas of Britain, Red Campion is usually found on
rich soils at the edges of woods or in hedgerows. It will also establish
itself on screes and cliff edges.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
Type - perennial
Height - 200-900mm
Flowers - May-June
FLOWERS CLOSE UP
Petals
- 5, deeply lobed with stalk-like base and have an inner ring of white
flaps
Colour - rose-pink, rarely white
Type - open during day, scentless
Size - 18-25mm
Bracts - present
Flowers - numerous, branched head at stem-tip. Male and female flowers
on different plants.
Stamens - male with 10
Stigmas - female with 5
Sepals - 5, 120-175mm, joined into tube with pointed teeth
Ovary - 1, 1-celled
STEMS,
LEAVES and ROOTS
Stem - turning upright
Hairs - soft, may be sticky above
Stipules - absent
Leaves - paired on opposite sides of stem, 4-10mm oval or oblong, pointed, edge unbroken. Lower leaves have long, winged stalks.
Root - slender, creeping stock
FRUIT
Type - 1, capsule, broad opening by 10 curled back teeth, oval
Size - 10-15mm
Seeds - many, black, kidney-shaped, rough with tiny outgrowths.
OTHER INFORMATION
When White Campion grows along side Red Campion it will often hybridise,
the resulting cross bears pink flowers as might be expected. Unlike
many hybrids, the plant is completely fertile and will often hybridise
with members of the parent strains. This is called backcrossing. When
it occurs, all shades of colour from red through pink to pure white
can be found, and it is often difficult to tell which plants are the
original red and white campions.