Silenes Listen are herbaceous , annual or perennial plants of the genus Silene belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family . This genus has many species, as it absorbed the ancient genera Cucubalus , Lychnis , Melandryum and Viscaria .
About 300 species are found in temperate regions of Europe , North America , Asia and Africa .
Twigs and leaves long hairy. Clearly spatulate leaves. Flowers with pink corolla, scalloped petals. Calyx with long triangular teeth.
This plant might be poisonous
How to get rid of:
Common groundsel is best controlled by eliminating the plant before it flowers. Since seeds can still mature even if the plant itself is killed, it is imperative to remove the plant from the area if there is any evidence of flowering. Seeds of common groundsel are not long-lived, usually remaining viable for about one year. Therefore, controlling this weed before flowering will have a great impact on the size of the next year's population.
Shallow tilling or hoeing of young plants effectively controls common groundsel. Start monitoring for seedlings in early fall and remove seedlings and plants as soon as possible. Monitoring should continue through early summer. Even if all the weeds in your garden are controlled, common groundsel may still infest the area from seeds that are blown in from nearby sites.
