Silene gallica
L.
Caryophyllaceae
Corone gallica Fourr.
Corone quinquevulnera Hoffmanns. ex Steud.
Cucubalus sylvestris Lam.
Cucubalus variegatus Lam.
Lychnis cerastoides (L.) Scop.
Lychnis vulnerata Scop.
Oncerum gallicum Dulac
Silene anglica L.
Silene cerastoides L.
Silene chilensis Cham. & Schltdl. ex Rohrb.
Silene giraldii Guss.
Silene linophila Rothm.
Silene quinquevulnera L.
Silene transtagana Cout.
Common Name:
General Information
Silene gallica is an erect to ascending, annual plant growing from a slender taproot. The stems can be branched or unbranched, around 15 - 45cm tall[
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental (especially the var quinquevulnera)[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Range
Central and southern Europe - Britain to Ukraine and southwards; N. Africa - Macaronesia to Egypt; W. Asia - Turkey to Afghanistan
Habitat
Sandy or gravelly fields and waste places[
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Pollinators | Lepidoptera, bees |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Species in this genus generally grow well in a sunny position in a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is said to be emollient and is used in baths or as a fumigant[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of ophthalmia[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - can be started off in spring in trays in a greenhouse and then planted out in late spring or early summer. Can also be sown in situ in spring.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
