Silene chalcedonica

Read about Silene chalcedonica in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Lychnis chalcedonica, Linn. Maltese Cross. JeruSalem Cross. Scarlet Lightning. Fig. 2222. Perennial, 2-3 ft. tall, usually loose-hairy, the sts. simple or nearly so: lvs. oblong or cordate-lanceolate, clasping (upper ones often narrow and tapering), short- pointed, hairy: fls. 1 in. long, with narrow upward- enlarging ribbed calyx and spreading obcordate notched limb. June. B.M. 257. Gn.M.5:17.—Probably Japanese, but long in cult., and one of the best of all old-fashioned fls. The fls. are usually brick-red to scarlet, but there are varieties with rose-colored, flesh- colored and white blossoms; also with double fls. G. 4:391. The arrangement of the petal-limbs suggests the Maltese cross, hence one of the common names. Rarely persists for a time as a weed. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.