Citation: Garcke, Fl. Deutschl. edn 9:64 (1869) subsp. vulgaris.

Synonymy: Cucubalus behen L., Sp. Pl. 414 (1753); Behen vulgaris Moench, Meth. 709 (1794); S. cucubalus Wibel, Prim. Fl. Werth. 241 (1799); Cucubalus inflatus Salisb., Prod. Chapel Allert. 302 (1796); S. inflata (Salisb.)Smith, Fl. Brit. 467 (1800).

Common name: Bladder campion, blue root.

Description:
Perennial, usually glabrous, glaucous, woody at the base, stems c. 70 cm high, branched; leaves glabrous, broadly-lanceolate or ovate to linear, c. 8 cm long, c. 2.5 cm wide, apex acute, usually sessile but sometimes tapering to a short flat petiole.

Flowers to c. 2 cm diam., on rather long pedicels, often drooping, in a forked cyme; bracts scarious; calyx broadly ovoid to subglobose, inflated, umbilicate at the base, c. 1.5 cm diam., with 20 longitudinal nerves branching reticulately, teeth triangular; petals white, rarely violet, 2-fid to the claws.

Capsules broadly ovoid or oblong, c. 1.4 cm long, c. 0.7 cm wide, usually with a narrow mouth, c. 3 times longer than the glabrous carpophore which supports it; seeds 1-1.5 mm long, black.

Published illustration: P. Lamp & F. Collet (1976) Weeds in Australia, p. 294.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   New Zealand; native to Europe, the Mediterranean and western Asia. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: mainly Oct. — Jan.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available