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Suksdorf's catchfly

bladder campion

Habit Plants perennial; caudices woody. Plants perennial; caudices woody.
Stems

decumbent to erect, 3–15 cm;

branches many, puberulent, glandular-viscid above.

decumbent to erect, 20–80 cm;

branches few, glabrous to glaucous.

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.

lower cauline lanceolate to oblanceolate, 4–8 cm × 5–20 mm; upper cauline lanceolate to ovate, 3–4.5 cm × 5–15 mm, gradually reduced upward.

Inflorescences

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

pedicels glandular-viscid.

terminal; open cymes, not 1-sided;

pedicels glabrous.

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.

bisexual or unisexual (pistillate), nodding to spreading;

calyces campanulate, inflated and becoming papery in fruit, 7–10 mm, glabrous, obscurely 10–15-veined, netted throughout; pale commissures absent;

lobes 2–3 mm; acute to mucronate;

petal claws glabrous; appendages 0 or 2; minute;

limbs 7 mm, white, emarginate or lobes 2, 3–4 mm;

stamens exserted;

styles 3, exserted.

Fruits

ovoid;

teeth 6(8);

stalks 2–3.5 mm.

subspherical;

teeth 6;

stalks 2–3 mm.

Seeds

1–2 mm, brown, winged.

1–1.5 mm; black, not winged.

2n

=48.

=24.

Silene suksdorfii

Silene vulgaris

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.

Roadsides, fields, forest openings. Flowering Jun–Aug. 0–1300 m. Casc, Col, CR, Lava, WV. CA, ID, WA; throughout North America except far north and southeast; Europe. Exotic.

A widespread introduced species, S. vulgaris was first gathered in Oregon on ballast at Linnton (Portland) in 1911.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 575
Rich Rabeler, Ronald Hartman
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 575
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. menziesii, S. noctiflora, S. nuda, S. oregana, S. parryi, S. pectinata, S. pendula, S. scaposa, S. scouleri, S. spaldingii, S. suksdorfii
Synonyms Silene cucubalus
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