Silene vallesia

This magnificent catchfly, which within the Alps is found exclusively in the Western Alps, is found from Provence to the Swiss canton of Valais, from which it takes its specific name. It is found mainly on siliceous substrates, in rocky habitats and stony pastures at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,600 metres. 

A relatively easy plant to identify, it cannot be confused with other species of the genus Silene. Its most distinctive feature is its flowers, which have a club-shaped, swollen calyx, typically veined with violet and glandular (sticky to the touch), whilst the two-lobed petals are pale pink. The petals also tend to curl, sometimes creating a characteristic rim around the mouth of the calyx.