White campion (white cockle)
June 16, 2015
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EmailSilene latifolia Poir. Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Life cycle
Annual, biennial or short-lived perennial.
Leaves
Seedling leaves initially develop from a basal rosette. Basal leaves are attached to the stem by petioles; stem leaves are without petioles. Leaves are opposite, softly hairy with a grayish tinge, and lance-shaped to oval with pointed tips and smooth to slightly wavy leaf margins.
White campion rosette (left) and opposite leaves (right).
Stems
Soft, hairy stems are erect or semi-erect at maturity and up to 3-feet-tall. Stems have swollen nodes and often branch at the base.
Flowers and fruit
Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Flowers have five showy, white petals, each with a deep V-shaped notch at the tip. Just below the petals are fused and inflated sepals create a balloon-like appearance. Fruit are light brown, vase-shaped capsules with 10 teeth at the open end. Each capsule contains numerous brown to gray, kidney-shaped seeds.
Reproduction
Seeds and root fragmentation.
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