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Suksdorf's catchfly

Menzies' catchfly

Habit Plants perennial; caudices woody. Plants perennial, sometimes matted; taproots slender.
Stems

decumbent to erect, 3–15 cm;

branches many, puberulent, glandular-viscid above.

decumbent to erect, 5–20(50) cm;

branches many, puberulent to short, sometimes deflexed hairy, glandular-puberulent above.

Leaves

basal narrowly oblanceolate, 0.5–4.5 cm × 1.5–3.5 mm, densely tufted; fleshy;

cauline in 1–3 pairs, linear-lanceolate, 0.5–1.5 cm × 1–2 mm, abruptly reduced upward.

oblanceolate to elliptic, 2–6 cm × 3–20 mm, slightly reduced upward.

Inflorescences

terminal; open cymes, not 1-sided, or flowers solitary;

pedicels glandular-viscid.

terminal; open cymes, not 1-sided, or flowers solitary; axillary or terminal;

pedicels glandular-hairy.

Flowers

bisexual; erect;

calyces campanulate, not inflated in fruit, 9–12 mm; short-glandular-hairy, prominently 10-veined, not netted above; pale commissures present; commissural veins fork above and fuse with lobe veins, becoming papery;

cell walls of hairs purple;

lobes 1–2 mm;

tips acute to obtuse;

petal claws ciliate at base; appendages 2;

limbs 3–5 mm, white to purplish;

lobes 2;

stamens equaling petal claws;

styles 3(4), equaling petal claws.

usually bisexual, functionally unisexual, ascending to erect;

calyces campanulate, not inflated in fruit, 5–7 mm, puberulent and glandular, obscurely 10-veined, not netted above; pale commissures absent;

lobes 1–2 mm;

tips subacute to acuminate;

petal claws glabrous; appendages 2;

limbs 1.5–3 mm, white;

lobes 2;

stamens included (pistillate flowers) or equaling petal claws (staminate flowers);

styles 3(4), included (staminate flowers) or equaling petal claws (pistillate flowers).

Fruits

ovoid;

teeth 6(8);

stalks 2–3.5 mm.

ovoid-ellipsoid;

teeth 3(4), splitting to 6(8) teeth;

stalks 1–2 mm.

Seeds

1–2 mm, brown, winged.

0.5–1 mm; black, not winged.

2n

=48.

=24, 48.

Silene suksdorfii

Silene menziesii

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Rocky crevices, ridges, slopes. Flowering Jul–Sep. 1600–2800 m. Casc, ECas. CA, WA. Native.

Coniferous or aspen woods, sage-juniper slopes, streambanks. Flowering Apr–Sep. 50–2600 m. All ecoregions except Est. CA, ID, NV, WA; western North America. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 575
Rich Rabeler, Ronald Hartman
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 572
Rich Rabeler, Ronald Hartman
Sibling taxa
S. acaulis, S. antirrhina, S. bernardina, S. bolanderi, S. bridgesii, S. campanulata, S. conoidea, S. dichotoma, S. dioica, S. douglasii, S. gallica, S. grayi, S. hookeri, S. latifolia, S. lemmonii, S. menziesii, S. noctiflora, S. nuda, S. oregana, S. parryi, S. pectinata, S. pendula, S. scaposa, S. scouleri, S. spaldingii, S. vulgaris
S. acaulis, S. antirrhina, S. bernardina, S. bolanderi, S. bridgesii, S. campanulata, S. conoidea, S. dichotoma, S. dioica, S. douglasii, S. gallica, S. grayi, S. hookeri, S. latifolia, S. lemmonii, S. noctiflora, S. nuda, S. oregana, S. parryi, S. pectinata, S. pendula, S. scaposa, S. scouleri, S. spaldingii, S. suksdorfii, S. vulgaris
Synonyms Silene menziesii var. menziesii, Silene menziesii var. viscosa
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