Bladder Campion - introduced (*Silene vulgaris)

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
• the fruit are not conspicuously striped
• the fruit become inflated and bladder-like.

Similar species: French Catchfly (Silene gallica) has glandular hairs and the fruit is striped.

Photo 1: Dried specimen. The unstriped bladder-like fruit are a distinctive feature.

It is an environmental weed.

2: Patch of Bladder Campion. Both: Parker St, Castlemaine.