Campion, also called catchfly, is the name of a large number of plants of the pink family. The flowers have five petals, often cleft or notched (partly divided at the top). The sepals that protect the petals are joined at the base to form a tube or inflated bladder. The seeds are contained in a capsule.
Two common European species are the red campion and the white campion. Both have hairy stems. The blooms of the white campion open in the evening and give off a sweet scent to attract pollinating moths. The red campion has clusters of bright rose-pink flowers that open during the day and are unscented. They grow in a variety of habitats from fields and open woods to sea cliffs.
