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By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2015-07-26. Revised by … The author R.M. Gilchrist noted in 1913 that Lychnis flos-cuculi, commonly called Ragged-Robin, was known by the outlaw's name in several English counties. Gilchrist, Robert Murray 1913a, p. 24. Was it simply the element 'Robin' in the most common folk-name for this plant that led to the adoption of the alternative name of 'Robin Hood'? In any case, the first occurrence yet found of this folk name is dated 1844 (see Quotations section below) The plant is herbaceous and perennial, belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. Native to Europe, it is found along roads, in wet meadows and pastures. As a consequence of modern farming techniques and draining of wet-lands the plant is no longer as common in Britain as it used to be. The plant forms a rosette of low-growing foliage with numerous 20-90 cm tall flower stems which rise above the foliage and branch near the top of the stem, ending in pink flowers that are 3-4 cm across. The …