Lychnis chalcedonica L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Caryophyllaceae

• Scientific Name

  Lychnis chalcedonica L.

• Description

  Species Description - Perennial, 3–6 dm; stem hirsute; basal lvs spatulate or oblanceolate to lanceolate; cauline lvs 10–20 pairs, lanceolate or lance-ovate, 5–12 × 2–5 cm, acute, sparsely hairy or glabrate, serrulate-ciliate; infl terminal, ± capitate; fls numerous, red (white); cal 12–17 mm at maturity, the 10 coarse ribs strigose-hirsute, the lobes 2.5–3.5 mm; pet 14–18 mm, the claw ciliate, the appendages tubular, 2–3 mm, the blade 7–9 mm, deeply bilobed; ovary on a stipe 4–6 mm; fr 1 cm; 2n=24, 48. Native of Asia, occasionally escaped from cult. in our range. June–Sept.

• Common Names

  scarlet lychnis, Maltese cross