Lychnis alba Mill.  Lychnis alba plant  Family - Caryophyllaceae
Stems - To +70cm tall, herbaceous, erect to decumbent,
branching, fistulose, densely pubescent to hirsute, from a
taproot, purplish in strong sun.  Leaves - Opposite. Basal
leaves petiolate, spatulate. Cauline leaves sessile, oblong to
lanceolate above, acute, to +/-10cm long, +/-2.5cm broad,
hirsutulous above and below, slightly scabrous above. Margins
entire, sometimes undulate or crisped. At least the upper leaves
connected at base by a thin membrane sheath.  Lychnis alba
leaves  Inflorescence - One to many flowers in an open
dichasium. Pedicels(of pistillate plants) elongating in fruit to
+/-4cm long. Pedicels of both sex plants often purplish,
glandular pubescent. Flowers opening at night, fragrant. Male
(staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers appearing on
different plants (dioecious).  Flowers - Petals 5, white, clawed
(the claws greenish-white and glabrous), auriculate, to +1cm
long, +5mm broad, cleft to the middle, distinct. Stamens