Silene stellata
Silene marmorensis
starry campion, widow's frill
Marble Mountain campion, Marble Mountain catchfly, Marble Mountain or Somes Bar campion
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
erect, simple proximal to inflorescence, 25–80 cm, puberulent, glandular 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.
in 5–7 pairs proximal to inflorescence, sessile, blade lanceolate, narrowed to base, apex acute;
proximal withering, becoming smaller in inflorescence, 2–5 cm × 3–10 mm, sparsely scabrous-pubescent on both surfaces.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
cymose, terminal, pedunculate, 1–3-flowered, open, bracteate, bracteolate, 10–25 cm, pubescence dense, hairs septate-glandular, septa colorless;
cymes paired at each node;
peduncle ascending, 1–3 cm;
bracts and bracteoles leaflike, reduced distally to 2 mm.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
not bent in fruit, 1/2 to equaling calyx.
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.
nocturnal;
calyx prominently 10-veined, campanulate, 12–14 × 4–6 mm in flower, becoming obovate to obconic and to 10 mm broad in fruit, not contracted proximally around carpophore, margins dentate, glandular-pubescent, veins parallel, with pale commissures, lobes lanceolate-acuminate, 3–4 mm, membranous, margins narrow, apex blunt, veins green;
corolla pale pink, greenish abaxially, clawed, claw equaling calyx, limb oblong, deeply 2-lobed, 4–6 mm, appendages 2, oblong, ca. 1 mm;
stamens equaling petals;
stigmas 3, equaling petals.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
obovoid, equaling calyx and often splitting it at maturity, opening by 5 teeth;
carpophore 3–4 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
black, reniform, 2–3 mm, tuberculate;
tubercles conic, in concentric rows.
= (34), 48.
= 48.
Silene stellata
Silene marmorensis
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.)
Of conservation concern.
Silene marmorensis is closely related to S. bridgesii but has a narrower inflorescence, pedicels that are ascending instead of deflexed, and styles and stamens that are about equal to the petals. As in S. bridgesii and S. lemmonii, the flowers open at night and are probably moth-pollinated. The species is known only from Humboldt and Siskiyou counties.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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