Flora of New Zealand Series

ragged robin

Flowering stems erect, 30-80 cm tall, with short appressed-reflexed hairs. Basal and lower stem lvs tufted, narrowly oblanceolate, acute, (40)-80-150 × (3)-5-15 mm, gradually tapered to long petiole; upper lvs linear-lanceolate, acute, sessile, connate in pairs, becoming smaller. Infl. a (3)-7-15-flowered dichasium; pedicels (5)-10-25 mm long; bracts narrowly lanceolate, 3-10 mm long. Calyx bell-shaped, 7-10 mm long, 10-veined; teeth triangular, ciliate, acute. Petals pink; claw c. = calyx; limb spreading, deeply 4-lobed or rarely deeply emarginate, 1-1.5 cm long. Capsule ovoid; carpophore very short or 0. Seeds brown, reniform, sharply warty, c. 0.8 mm long.

N.: S. Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu; S.: Canterbury, Westland.

Europe 1871

Swamps, bogs and ditches.

The deeply 4-lobed pink petals of ragged robin distinguish it from other spp. of Lychnis and Silene in N.Z.