Silene gallica

Flower name
Silene gallica
Scientific name
Silene gallica
AliasCommon catchfly
Place of originEurope
Place of flowering
Flowering seasonMay, June, July, August

What is Silene gallica

Silene gallica (scientific name: Silene gallica) is a wild perennial (naturalized) plant native to Europe and belonging to the genus Manthema in the family Apiaceae. The leaves, calyx tubes, and stems have many long and glandular hairs that are sticky to the touch. In spring, it produces small white to pale pink flowers on roadsides and wastelands. The corolla is a jointed flower with five deep lobes at the tips, giving the appearance of a five-petaled flower. The tip of each lobe does not split in two. The flowers are monochromatic with no dark reddish-purple spots. There is a white corolla. The tip of each lobe does not split in two. The basic species of manthema is the white manthema (S. gallica), and the manthema was introduced to Japan earlier.
Manthema (Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera) also has a corolla with five deep lobes at the tip of the jointed flower, making it look like a five-petaled flower. The flowers are white with large dark reddish purple spots. There is a white secondary corolla. The tip of each lobe is not bicameral. The corolla of Silene dichotoma is a jointed flower with five deep lobes and two heart-shaped lobes on each lobe.

Common name: Silene gallica, Scientific name: Silene gallica, Place of origin: Europe, Distribution: Hokkaido - Kyushu, Japan, Environment: Roadside, Wasteland, Grassland, Type of life: Annual wildflower (naturalized plant), Grass height: 20-50 cm, Leaf shape: spatulate (lower part) to broadly connate (upper part), Inflorescence: opposite, Leaf margins: full-margined, Hairs: on both sides of leaf, Female and male plants, Inflorescence shape: entire, Leaf shape: spatulate (lower part) to broadly connate (upper part); Inflorescence: opposite; Leaf margins: marginal; Hairs: on both sides of leaf; Dioecious; Inflorescence: racemose; Flowering season: May-June; Flower colour: white to pale pink; Corolla: ovate with 5 lobes at apex; Flower type: jointed; Flower diameter: 0.7-0.8 cm; Fruit type: capsule.