Maltese-cross (Silene chalcedonica (L.) E.H.L.Krause)
Also known as Maltesecross, scarlet lychnis, flower of Bristol, Jerusalem cross, nonesuch; also classified as Lychnis chalcedonica L.
↑Range - Expand
| Legend | Color |
| Introduced | |
| Introduced or Not Present |
This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.
Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.
This species has also been introduced in Canada; we have yet to build this portion of its map.
↑Notes
Unfortunately, all common names we have found for this species are problematic. The common name "scarlet lychnis" refers to the old genus Lychnis this species was classified in before it was moved into Silene. In general, naming common names after scientific names can become confusing or misleading when plants are reclassified.
The name "Maltese-cross" is perhaps most widely-used, but is misleading because this species tends normally to have 5 petals, only rarely 4, and "cross" suggests it would have 4 petals. The same comment pertains to the name "Jersusalem cross" as well. This species is also neither found in Malta, nor Jerusalem. "Flower of Bristol" is also misleading as Bristol is located in England and this species is not native to England. And the common name "nonesuch" is also used for black medick (Medicago lupulina).
↑Links & External Resources
• Lychnis chalcedonica (maltesecross) | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)
• Lychnis chalcedonica | Go Botany (About This Site)
• Silene chalcedonica | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)
• Lychnis chalcedonica | NatureServe Explorer (About This Site)
• Silene chalcedonica | Flora of North America (About This Site)
• Silene chalcedonica (Maltese Cross) | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Silene chalcedonica | CABI Invasive Species Compendium (About This Site)
• Silene chalcedonica (L.) E.H.L.Krause | Plants of the World Online (POWO) (About This Site)
