Silene bellidioides flower

The scented flowers of Silene bellidioides are presented well above the leaves on long stalks from leaf axils.

The flower has a long, cylindrical tube, longitudinally lined with cream and green on the enveloping, hairy calyx. The corolla is slightly longer than the calyx, the five petals spreading abruptly at the mouth. The petals fork in a V-shape into two lobes. Flower colour is mostly white, but may be pink or a pale creamy beige.

Flowering occurs in summer; the flowers opening in the evening. The picture was taken in January (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).