Catchfly Silene nutans Slightly downy and sticky perennial of calcareous grassland and shingle beaches. FLOWERS Nodding, 17mm across; pinkish-white petals are inrolled in the daytime but roll back at dusk (May–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval; lower ones stalked but stem leaves unstalked. STATUS Local and scattered.
Bush, Robin
Night-flowering Catchfly
Night-flowering Catchfly Silene noctiflora
Stickily hairy annual of arable fields, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS Similar to White Campion but with petals pinkish above, yellowish below; inrolled by day, opening at night, when they are scented (May–July). FRUITS Capsules with 6 reflexed teeth. LEAVES Ovate. STATUS Local and declining.
Small-flowered Catchfly
Small-flowered Catchfly Silene gallica
Stickily hairy annual of arable land and disturbed, mainly sandy soils. FLOWERS Pinkish or white, and sometimes flushed red at the base (var. quinquevulnera, see photo left), 10–12mm across; in 1-sided spikes (June–Oct). FRUITS Inflated capsules. LEAVES Hairy, upper ones narrower than basal ones. STATUS Widespread but local and generally scarce. Restricted to unimproved arable fields.
Sand Catchfly
Sand Catchfly Silene conica
Upright, stickily hairy, greyish-green annual. Found on sandy soils, mainly coastal. FLOWERS 4–5mm across, with 5 notched and pinkish petals; in clusters (May–July). FRUITS Forming within inflated, flagon-shaped capsules. LEAVES Narrow, downy. STATUS Local and scarce, restricted mainly to coastal SE England.
Cleave, Andrew
Soapwort
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis
Straggling, hairless perennial with brittle stems. Found on roadside verges and waste ground, and in damp woodland. FLOWERS Pink, 25–35mm across (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrowly oval, distinctly veined. STATUS Possibly native in a few sites but mainly a naturalised garden escape.
Ragged-robin
Ragged-robin Lychnis flos-cuculi HEIGHT to 65cm
Delicate-looking perennial of damp meadows, fens and marshes. FLOWERS Pink, with 5 petals, each divided into 4 ‘ragged’ lobes (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like, rough; upper ones in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common, but decreasing through agricultural changes (e.g. land drainage).
Maiden Pink
Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides
Hairy perennial that sometimes forms clumps. Associated with dry, sandy soils. FLOWERS 18–20mm across, with 5 pink petals that show white basal spots and have toothed margins (June–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, rough-edged, grey-green. STATUS Widespread but extremely local.
Deptford Pink
Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria
Dark green, slightly hairy annual. Found in dry, grassy places, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS 9–13mm across, with reddish-pink petals that have toothed margins and pale spots; in clusters (June–Aug). Note the long bracts. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow. STATUS Scarce and local.
Corncockle
Corncockle Agrostemma githago
Distinctive, downy annual. Associated with arable fields. FLOWERS 30–45mm across, with 5 pinkish-purple petals and long, narrow and radiating sepals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like. STATUS
