Ragged Robin

Ragged Robin

Taxobox | name = Ragged Robin


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Caryophyllaceae
genus = "Lychnis"
species = "L. flos-cuculi"
binomial = "Lychnis flos-cuculi"
binomial_authority = L.

"Lychnis flos-cuculi", commonly called Ragged Robin, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is species is native to Europe, where it is found along roads and in wet meadows and pastures. In Britain it has declined in numbers because of modern farming techniques and draining of wet-lands and is no longer common.

Description

"Lychnis flos-cuculi" forms a rosette of low growing foliage with numerous flower stems 20 to 90 cm tall. The stems rise above the foliage and branch near the top of the stem and end with the pink flowers which are 3-4 cm across. The flowers have five narrow petals deeply divided into four lobes giving the flower an untidy, ragged appearance, hence its common name. The calyx tube is five-toothed with ten stamens. The leaves are paired, with the lower leaves spoon-shaped and stalked. The middle and upper leaves are linear-lanceolate with pointed apexes. All of the leaves are untoothed. The stems have barbed hairs pointing downward and these hairs make the plant rough to the touch. Ragged Robins bloom from May to August, occasionally later, and butterflies and long-tongued bees feed on the flowers nectar. The fruits consist of small (6-10 mm) capsules opening on top by five teeth and containing many small seeds, they are found on the plants from August onwards.

It has become naturalized in northeastern United States as well as parts of the South East of the UK.

Cultivation

Commonly-found garden varieties include:

*"Lychnis flos-cuculi" 'Nana' - dwarf form (4 inches) with smaller leaf rosettes and shorter flower stems.
*"Lychnis flos-cuculi" 'Alba' - white-flowered form.

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ragged robin — Robin Rob in, n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS. hr?? glory, fame, Goth. hr?peigs victorius) + beraht bright. See {Bright}, {Hob} a clown.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ragged robin — Ragged Rag ged (r[a^]g g[e^]d), a. [From {Rag}, n.] 1. Rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken; as, a ragged coat; a ragged sail. [1913 Webster] 2. Broken with rough edges; having jags; uneven; rough; jagged; as, ragged rocks.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ragged robin — n. a perennial plant (Lychnis flos cuculi) of the pink family, with loose clusters of pink or red flowers …   English World dictionary

  • Ragged Robin (comics) — Superherobox| caption= character name=Ragged Robin real name=Kay publisher=Vertigo imprint of DC Comics debut= The Invisibles #1 (1994) creators=Grant Morrison (writer) Steve Yeowell (artist) alliances=The Invisibles aliases=… …   Wikipedia

  • ragged robin — noun A type of wild campion, Lychnis flos cuculi, in the family Caryophyllaceae, which grows across Europe and has pink flowers. Paul came back and threaded daisies in her jet black hair, big spangles of white and yellow, and just a pink touch of …   Wiktionary

  • ragged robin — noun common perennial native to Europe and western Asia having usually pink flowers with ragged petals • Syn: ↑cuckoo flower, ↑Lychnis flos cuculi, ↑Lychins floscuculi • Hypernyms: ↑lychnis, ↑catchfly …   Useful english dictionary

  • ragged robin — noun Date: 1741 a perennial herb (Lychnis flos cuculi) of the pink family cultivated for its pink flowers with narrow lobed petals …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ragged robin — a plant, Lychnis flos cuculi, of the pink family, having pink or white flowers with dissected petals. [1735 45] * * * …   Universalium

  • ragged robin — noun a pink flowered campion with divided petals that give it a tattered appearance. [Lychnis flos cuculi.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • ragged robin — rag′ged rob′in n. pln a plant, Lychnis flos cuculi, of the pink family, having pink or white flowers with dissected petals • Etymology: 1735–45 …   From formal English to slang

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