MALTESE CROSS

FLOWER OF BRISTOL

Silene chalcedonica

Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae]

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept

status
statusZcasual
flower
flower8red
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZ5
stem
stem8round

11th July 2016, Shibdon NNR, London. Photo: © George
Leaves in opposite pairs up the stem. Grows 35-100cm high, stems un-branched.


11th July 2016, Shibdon NNR, London. Photo: © George
Flowers clustered together at the top, with anywhere between 10-50 clusters.


4th July 2016, Shibdon NNR, London. Photo: © George
With petals a striking and uniform scarlet-red colour, surpassed only by Scarlet Pimpernel. A hairy perennial growing to 1m high. Flowers densely clustered in a compact head. Ovate leaves mid-green, acute and cordate at the base.


4th July 2016, Shibdon NNR, London. Photo: © George
Has 5 petals which are roundly-notched 1/3 of the way to their base. Flowers span 1-3cm across.


4th July 2016, Shibdon NNR, London. Photo: © George
Like many other Campions the flower has frilly bits around the centre.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : Scarlet red with flowers in the shape of a Maltese Cross.

A non-native grown in gardens but escapes occasionally to rough or marginal lands where it might become naturalised.


  Silene chalcedonica  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Caryophyllaceae  

Distribution
 family8Carnation & Campion (Pink) family8Caryophyllaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Silene
Silene
(Campions)

MALTESE CROSS

FLOWER OF BRISTOL

Silene chalcedonica

Carnation & Campion (Pink) Family [Caryophyllaceae]