French Catchfly - introduced (*Silene gallica var. gallica)

Family: Caryophyllaceae (Chickweed & Carnation family).

Native of Europe.

Occurrence: An uncommon weed.

Identification:

• it is an erect perennial
• the leaves are almost stalkless and in pairs
• the petals are pink or white
• most parts have glandular hairs
• the fruit are striped.

Similar species: Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris) is almost hairless and the fruit is not striped.

It is an environmental weed.