Lychnis

Lychnis /ˈlɪknɪs/ is a genus of 15-25 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. The genus is closely related to (and sometimes included in) Silene, differing in the flowers having five styles (three in Silene), the seed capsule having five teeth (six in Silene), and in the sticky stems of Lychnis. Common names include "campion" (shared with Silene) and "catchfly", the latter name based on the sticky stems.

Selected species

Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) has been reclassified outside the UK as Silene coronaria.

The Lychnis is also the common name of Hadena bicruris, a species of noctuid moth. The larva of this moth feeds on Lychnis species, as do some other Lepidoptera including Cabbage Moth (recorded on L. chalcedonica), Grey Chi and case-bearers of the genus Coleophora including C. albella (feeds exclusively on L. flos-cuculi) and C. leucapennella.

Lychnis (moth)

The lychnis (Hadena bicruris) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in northern and western Europe.Also Turkey.It has an Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution.In the East Palearctic it is replaced by Hadena capsincola.

This species has dark brown forewings marked with two prominent white-bordered stigmata and a white subterminal line. The hindwings are buffish, darkening to brown towards the margin but with a prominent white fringe. The wingspan is 30–40 mm. One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen between May and September. Flight is from June to July.

The larva feeds on various Caryophyllaceae such as Dianthus, Lychnis, Saponaria and Silene. The species overwinters as a pupa.

References

Reading

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