Silene coniflora
fire following campion, manynerve catchfly, multinerve catchfly
erect, simple or branched, 20–65 cm, glandular-pubescent.
proximal forming rosette, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, 3–8(–12) cm × 5–13(–25) mm, apex ± obtuse, sparingly pubescent and glandular;
cauline reduced distally, blade lanceolate, 1–7 cm × 2–15 mm, apex ± acute, sparingly pubescent and glandular.
dichasiate, open, bracteate;
bracts leaflike, to 15 mm.
ascending, 1–3(–5) cm, densely glandular-pubescent, viscid.
calyx prominently 20–25-veined, ovate-conic, 8–12 mm, margins dentate, coarsely pubescent, glandular, lobes erect, narrowly lanceolate, 2–3 mm, margins membranous ca. 1/4 length of calyx;
corolla inconspicuous, cream, purple tinged adaxially, dull orange abaxially, equaling or slightly longer than calyx, limb ovate, 1–3 mm, apex notched, appendages absent, auricles round, small;
stamens shorter than corolla;
stigmas 3, shorter than corolla.
tightly enclosed in calyx, ovoid, with narrow opening, opening by 6 triangular teeth ca. 1 mm;
carpophore ca. 1 mm.
dark brown to black, rotund, 0.6–1 mm broad, papillate.
= 20 (Asia).
Silene coniflora
Silene coniflora apparently was introduced into North America in the early days of European exploration and settlement of the Pacific coast. It occurs as a native species from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The report by C. V. Piper (1906) of its occurrence in Washington is based on a specimen of S. conica. I have been unable to confirm the statement by M. E. Peck (1961) that S. multinervia is “sparingly introduced” along the coast of Oregon.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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