Silene stellata
Silene coniflora
starry campion, widow's frill
fire following campion, manynerve catchfly, multinerve catchfly
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
erect, simple or branched, 20–65 cm, glandular-pubescent.
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 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.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
dichasiate, open, bracteate;
bracts leaflike, to 15 mm.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
ascending, 1–3(–5) cm, densely glandular-pubescent, viscid.
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.
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.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
tightly enclosed in calyx, ovoid, with narrow opening, opening by 6 triangular teeth ca. 1 mm;
carpophore ca. 1 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
dark brown to black, rotund, 0.6–1 mm broad, papillate.
= (34), 48.
= 20 (Asia).
Silene stellata
Silene coniflora
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 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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