Synonym: Melandrium rubrum; Agrostemma sylvestris; Lychnis dioica; Melandrium dioicum; Saponaria dioica.
English: Red campion; Red catchfly; Fairy flower; Firefly.
Region: central, western, northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe.
Habitat: roadsides, woodlands, rocky slopes; damp, non-acid soils.
Use: ornamental.
BotanyHerb, biennial or perennial, dioecious; 30–90 cm.
Stem: branching stems.
Leaves: deep green; opposite, decussate pairs; simple acute ovate; 3–8 cm long; untoothed margin; hairy, slightly sticky; upper leaves are stalkless.
Flowers: dark pink to red flowers; unscented; 1 to 3 cm across; 5 petals, deeply notched at the end, narrow at the base, urn-shaped calyx; male with 10 stamens and a 10-veined calyx; female with 5 styles and a 20-veined calyx; flowering from May to October.
Fruit: ovoid capsule, containing numerous seeds, opening at the apex by 10 teeth which curve back.
Pollination: by flies, bumblebees, butterflies, moth feed.