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Saponaria officinalis
Common perennial plant from the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). It contains saponin and is used as soap. The plants possesses leafy, unbranched stems (often tinged with red). It grows in patches, attaining a height of 70 cm. The broad, lanceolate, sessile leaves are opposite and between 4 and 12 cm long. Its sweetly scented flowers are radially symmetrical and pink, or sometimes white. Each of the five flat petals have two small scales in the throat of the corolla. They are about 2.5 cm wide. They are arranged in dense, terminal clusters on the main stem and its branches. The long tubular calyx has five pointed red teeth.
Growing in sandy areas. Soapwort's native range extends throughout Europe to western Siberia. It grows in cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along the shoulders of roadways.
Bedankt! Many thanks for taking a look and Iding some of my spotted plants :-)
Spotted on Aug 26, 2012
Submitted on Aug 26, 2012
