Bladder Campion

Botanical Name: Silene vulgaris
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Carnation family)

The Bladder Campion is a distinctive and graceful perennial herb, easily recognized by its unique bladder-like sepal tube, which gives the flower its common name. This inflated sepal, marked with a delicate network of darker veins, encloses the elegant white to greenish drooping flowers that make the plant stand out in the wild.

Growing 30–100 cm tall, the Bladder Campion bears branched stems and flowers usually arranged in lax, branched clusters. Each flower, measuring 1.5–2.5 cm across, displays deeply lobed petals, enhancing its delicate charm. The sepal tube grows from 1.5 cm in bloom to about 2 cm in fruit, ending in soft triangular lobes.

Found in diverse Himalayan terrains, the plant blooms from June to August, adding gentle beauty to high-altitude landscapes.

By featuring the Bladder Campion, India Post draws attention to the fragile elegance of India’s wild flora and underscores the need to conserve its rich botanical diversity.