SILENE, viscous campion; a genus of the trigynia order, belonging to the decandria class of plants. The principal species are, Lobel's catch-fly, dwarf lychnis, Spanish campion, Portugal campion, nodding or mountain campion, Persian campion, shrubby Sicilian campion, &c. The two first are annuals, the two next biennials, and the last three perennial in root. They all flower here in summer from May till August, in the different sorts, each flower having five petals; and several of the sorts produce ripe seeds, particularly the annuals and biennials, by which all the sorts may be raised, and the perennials also by parting the roots, &c. They are all hardy herbaceous plants, and in general have very viscous or clammy stalks, particularly just below the joints, to which flies often stick fast; hence the name catch-fly, viscous
campion, &c. They will all prosper in any of the garden-compartments.