catchfly

/ˌkɛtʃˈflaɪ/

Other forms: catchflies

Definitions of catchfly

1. noun

   any plant of the genus Silene
   synonyms: campion, silene

   types:

   Silene acaulis, moss campion

   tuft- or mat-forming dwarf perennial of Arctic regions of western and central Europe and North America

   Silene caroliniana, wild pink

   perennial of eastern and central North America having short-stalked pink or white flowers in hairy clusters

   Lychnis dioica, Silene dioica, red bird's eye, red campion

   biennial European catchfly having red or pink flowers; sometimes placed in genus Lychnis

   Lychnis alba, Silene latifolia, bladder campion, evening lychnis, white campion, white cockle

   bluish-green herb having sticky stems and clusters of large evening-opening white flowers with much-inflated calyx; sometimes placed in genus Lychnis

   Silene virginica, fire pink

   perennial herb of eastern North America, having red flowers with narrow notched petals

   Silene uniflora, Silene vulgaris, bladder campion

   perennial of Arctic Europe having large white flowers with inflated calyx

   type of:

   flower

   a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
2. noun

   mostly perennial herbs with sticky stems that catch insects; widespread in north temperate zone
   synonyms: lychnis

   types:

   Lychins floscuculi, Lychnis flos-cuculi, cuckoo flower, ragged robin

   common perennial native to Europe and western Asia having usually pink flowers with ragged petals

   Lychins chalcedonica, maltese cross, scarlet lychnis

   Eurasian garden perennial having scarlet flowers in dense terminal heads

   Lychnis coronaria, dusty miller, gardener's delight, mullein pink, rose campion

   an old cottage garden plant of southeastern Europe widely cultivated for its attractive white woolly foliage and showy crimson flowers

   type of:

   flower

   a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms