Citation: Rauschert, Wiss. Z. Martin-Luther-Univ. Halle- Wittenberg Math. Naturwiss. Reihe 14:496 (1965).

Synonymy: Saponaria vaccaria L., Sp. PI. 409 (1753) S. hispanica Miller, Gard. Dict. edn 8 (1768); S. segetalis Necker, Delic. Gallo-Belg. 1:194 (1768); V. segetalis (Necker)Garcke in Asch., Fl. Prov. Brandenb. 1, 2:95 (1864); V. parviflora Moench, Meth. 63 (1794) V. pyramidata Medikus, Phil. Bot. 1:96 (1789).

Common name: Cow (or bladder) soapwort.

Description:
Erect annual; stems to c. 40 cm high, glabrous, terete, usually swollen at the nodes; leaves ovate to lanceolate, acute, sessile, frequently connate, 3-9 X 1-3.5 cm.

Flowers in loose corymbose cymes; pedicels 1-4 cm long; calyx c. 12 mm long, c. 10 mm wide, ovoid, contracted towards the summit, glabrous, with 5 darker green ribs, terminated by 5 acute pink teeth 1-2 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide; petals pink or sometimes white, 1.5-2 X 0.5-0.8 cm; stamens 10; styles 2.

Capsule broadly ovoid or almost globose, 6-9 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, enclosed in the calyx, opening in 4 blunt teeth; seeds almost globose, black, c. 1.5-2 mm diam.

	Vaccaria hispanica
Image source: fig. 149 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 307.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, SE.   W. Aust.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   Native to Europe. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: throughout the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available