Silene oregana
Silene occidentalis
Oregon campion, Oregon catchfly, Oregon silene
western campion, western catchfly
usually simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–50(–70) cm, puberulent and shortly stipitate-glandular, especially distally.
erect, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–60 cm, softly pubescent and stipitate-glandular.
2 per node, gradually reduced distally;
basal petiolate, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, 5–9 cm × 7–15 mm (including petiole), apex acute to obtuse, usually glabrous adaxially, sparsely pubescent abaxially;
cauline in 4–6 pairs, blade linear-lanceolate, 1–6(–8) cm × 2–6 mm, puberulent and shortly stipitate-glandular.
2 per node;
basal ± petiolate, petiole ciliate, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, 5–12 cm × 7–20 mm, apex acute, short-pubescent on both surfaces;
cauline in 3(–4) pairs, reduced distally, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate.
thyrsate, 3–25-flowered, open, bracteate, pedunculate, stipitate-glandular, viscid;
bracts narrowly lanceolate, 2–25 mm, apex acuminate.
open, narrow, with ascending branches, 9–25-flowered, bracteate, pubescent and stipitate-glandular;
bracts narrowly lanceolate, ciliate.
ascending.
1/2–3 times longer than calyx.
calyx prominently 10-veined, narrowly campanulate, umbilicate, somewhat clavate and constricted below middle around carpophore, 9–15 × 3–4 mm in flower, broadening to 7 mm in fruit, membranous, shortly stipitate-glandular, veins parallel, slender, tinged dark red, with pale commissures, lobes ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, 2–3 mm, margins scarious;
corolla creamy white, sometimes pink tinged, clawed, claw equaling calyx, glabrous, broadening only slightly into limb 3–8 mm, limb with 4–6 linear lobes, some splitting to 10 linear segments, appendages 4–6, linear, 1–1.5 mm, apex acute;
stamens ca. equaling petals;
filaments glabrous;
stigmas 3(–5), ca. equaling petals.
calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular in flower and fruit, umbilicate, somewhat constricted around carpophore, 15–38 × 3–6 mm, papery, sparsely pubescent and stipitate-glandular, veins parallel, green, with pale commissures, lobes 5, broadly ovate, 2–4 mm, scarious around green midrib;
corolla pink or rose red (rarely white), clawed, claw equaling calyx, limb oblong, fanlike, deeply 4-lobed, lobes divergent, lanceolate (rarely with only 2 lobes, each with small lateral tooth), (7–)10–20 mm, appendages linear, 2–4 mm;
stamens exserted, shorter than petals;
stigmas 3, shorter than petals.
ellipsoid, slightly longer than calyx, opening by 6 (or 8 or 10) very brittle teeth;
carpophore 2–4 mm.
narrowly ovate-elliptic, longer than calyx, opening by 6 recurved teeth;
carpophore 4–18 mm.
brown, ± reniform, angular, glossy, shallowly tuberculate.
grayish brown, reniform, 1–1.5 mm, verrucate.
= 48.
= 48.
Silene oregana
Silene occidentalis
The creamy white laciniate petals are the best field (and herbarium) guide to distinguishing this species from Silene parryi and S. scouleri, both of which have 2–4-lobed petals that are usually dingy cream to greenish or purple tinged.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The long, tubular calyx and the proportionally long carpophore of Silene occidentalis are remarkable. Plants with the longest calyx tubes (more than 30 mm) have been referred to subsp. longistipitata and appear to be confined to Butte County. Calyx length varies greatly, however, and it is doubtful whether it is a justifiable basis for taxonomic recognition. The deeply lobed pink petals, together with its habit, give S. occidentalis a superficial resemblance to the European S. flos-cuculi, which occurs as an introduction on both sides of the North American continent.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
