Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player
 

  • Nederlands
  • Deutsch
Search in the Encyclopedia

Dieren en planten

Cuckoo   Plants   Carnation family   Campions and robins   Sea sandwort   Dune flora   White flowers   Songbirds   

Mens en Milieu

Campion

size:

ragged robin: 20 to 90 centimeters
flowers 3-4 centimeters;
red campion: 30 to 90 centimeters
flowers 1.8-2.5 centimeters wide;
white campion: 40 to 80 centimeters
flowers 2.5 -3 centimeters

description:

ragged robin: pink flowers, barbed hairy stems
red campion: dark pink to red flowers, hairy stems
white campion: white flowers, densely hairy

blossoms:

ragged robin: May to August
red campion: May to October
white campion: spring to early autumn

uses:

crushed seeds of red campion is used to cure snakebites

pollination:

ragged robin: bees and hover-flies
campions: moths

life span:

ragged robin.: perennial
red c.: perennial, sometimes biennual
white c.:multi-annual , sometimes perennial

  • Dut: Echte koekoeksbloem
  • Lat: Lychnis flos-cuculi
  • Eng: Ragged robin (cuckoo or marsh gillyflower)
  • Fren: Lychnis fleur-de-coucour
  • Ger: Weissen-Schaumkraut
  • Dut: Dagkoekoeksbloem
  • Lat: Silene dioica
  • Eng: Red Campion
  • Fren: Compagnon rouge
  • Ger: Rote Lichtnelke (Kuckucksblume)
  • Dut: Avondkoekoeksbloem
  • Lat: Silene pratensis
  • Eng: White Campion
  • Fren: Compagnon blanc
  • Ger: Weisse Lichtnelke
print print
Ragged robin, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

Campions

Ragged robin (see picture) is fairly common along roadsides and wet fields. Its latin name Lychnis flos-cuculi, as well as many of its foreign names, makes a reference to the cuckoo bird. Some people say that the flower blossoms when the first cuckoo is heard. But that's not necessarily the case. The name really refers to the froth often found on the plant. It was believed to be spit from the cuckoo. However, the froth is made by the meadow spittlebug during its nymph stage. The red and white campions and the ragged robin are common wild flowers, which sometimes cross-pollinate.

  • Red campion

    As the names indicate, this plant has red flowers, making it easy to distinguish it from its white cousin. Although closely related, they generally grow in different soils and environments. Red campion prefers moist nutrient-rich sand and bogs, and no direct sunlight. The plant is sensitive to drought.

  • White campion

    White campion blossoms several weeks later than its red cousin. It grows the tallest of all other family members, up to 1 meter. White campion prefers dryer and sunnier regions than red campion. Both flowers are fairly common in the Netherlands. Despite their different preferences, you can find them growing together along roadsides, hedges and river valley woods.

  • Ragged robin
    Ragged robin, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

    Ragged robins grow best on damp meadows. That is unusual for carnation species. It has red flowers with deeply cut petals.