Silene stellata
Silene bridgesii
starry campion, widow's frill
Bridges' campion, Bridges' catchfly
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
erect, with 3–6 pairs of leaves below inflorescence, 30–80 cm, short-pubescent, glandular and somewhat viscid distally.
withering proximally, in whorls of 4, ± sessile to short-petiolate, largest in mid-stem region;
blade lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3–10 cm × 4–40 mm, apex acuminate, puberulent on both surfaces, sparsely so adaxially.
proximal petiolate, blade oblanceolate, 3–6(–8) cm × 5–15 mm (including petiole), base tapered into short petiole, apex acute to obtuse and apiculate, short-pubescent on both surfaces, pubescence rather sparse adaxially;
cauline leaves sessile, blade elliptic-lanceolate, 2–6 cm × 5–15 mm.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
branched, several–many-flowered, open, bracteate, flowering portion to 15 cm and ca. 1/2 as broad, glandular and viscid;
cymules usually 1–3-flowered;
bracts narrowly lanceolate, shorter than pedicel;
peduncle shorter than internodes.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
divaricate, sharply bent distally, 5–15 mm.
calyx obscurely 10-veined, broadly campanulate, becoming obtriangular in fruit, 7–11 × 6–10 mm, herbaceous, margins dentate, very narrow, membranous, sparsely puberulent, lobes broadly triangular, 2–3 mm;
corolla white, ca. 2 times longer than calyx, limb obtriangular, narrowed into claw, divided ca. 1/2 its length into 4–12 lobes, appendages absent;
stamens equaling petals;
styles 3, longer than petals.
nodding;
calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular to campanulate, umbilicate but narrowed at base, lobed, 9–11 × 3–5 mm in flower, in fruit ovate to turbinate, 5–8 mm broad, viscid-pubescent, veins parallel, green, papery between;
lobes 5, narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, 2–3 mm, ciliate;
corolla ± white, often greenish abaxially and pink tinged, 2 times calyx;
petals 2-lobed, margins entire to erose, appendages linear, narrow, 1–2.5 mm;
stamens often long-exserted;
filaments pubescent at base;
styles persistent, 3, long-exserted, filamentous, exceeding 2 times calyx.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
broadly ovoid, ca. equaling calyx, opening by 6 ascending, triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
reddish brown, reniform, 1.2–1.8 mm broad, coarsely papillate.
= (34), 48.
= 48.
Silene stellata
Silene bridgesii
Silene stellata is a very distinct species with its broadly lanceolate leaves in groups of four at each node, and its brilliant white, multilobed petals. Two varieties are recognized by some workers: var. stellata, with glabrous pedicels; and var. scabrella, with scabrous pedicels. The former tends to have longer, more slender pedicels and be more common towards the northeast, whereas the latter tends to be more western. The correlation of characters and distribution is poor, however, and intermediate plants are often encountered.
Silene stellata was collected near the Grand River, Cambridge, Ontario, in 1941, but was probably introduced there and has not been seen since.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Silene bridgesii is similar to S. lemmonii but usually can be distinguished by its larger size, broader and larger leaves, the near-absence of sterile basal shoots, and larger floral parts and fruits. Although S. longistylis has often been cited as a synonym of S. lemmonii, examination of the holotype (Henderson s.n., GH) indicates that it is referable to S. bridgesii.
Silene bridgesii is found in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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