Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, stout, simple or sparingly branched, glabrous, waxy, prominent swollen nodes.
- Leaves
- Opposite, simple, short-stalked or sessile, usually in 10-20 pairs, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5 to 4 inches long, .5 to 1.5 inches wide, glabrous; veins 3, parallel, prominent; tips pointed; lower leaves usually absent at flowering.
- Inflorescence
- Cyme, up to 6 inches long, terminal or in upper leaf axils.
- Flower
- Showy, fragrant, about 1 inch across; calyx green or purplish, not ribbed; lobes 5, triangular; petals 5 (sometimes more), 1/3 to 3/5 inch long, clawed, white to pale pink, tips notched; stamens 10, exserted; styles 2.
- Fruit
- Capsule, egg-shaped, about 3/5 inch long; seeds numerous, kidney-shaped to circular, flattened, dark brown.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Roadsides, waste areas, shelter belts, and fence rows.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas; more frequently in east 1/3.
Practical Information
- Uses
- Europeans and Native Americans used the plant as a soap substitute. The crushed roots and leaves lather when mixed with water. The root juice was also used as a hair tonic.
Additional Notes
Comments
Reproduces via seeds and rhizomes; tends to be found in colonies. The seeds can cause digestive disturbance in livestock.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae - Pink Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 12-30 inches
- Origin
- Native
- Last Updated
- 2007-11-11
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: July, August, September