Silene coronaria - Bloody William

sharman.houghton

Morning,

Could someone please tell me the origin of the Bloody William epithet assigned to Silene coronaria, aka rose campion, lampflower, dusty miller, mullein. 

I've been blundering around for quite a while now and no lamp has lit...

Thank you 

Loxley

No idea (never heard it called that) but maybe it's related to Sweet William, the name for Dianthus barbatus, being similar but with extremely deep red flowers? Well, pink really but gardeners have never been concerned with accuracy when it comes to colour.

sharman.houghton

May be why I am struggling to find any other information.

Forgot to include lychnis as an aka...if that helps anyone.

S