Silene stellata
Silene menziesii
starry campion, widow's frill
Menzies' campion, Menzies' catchfly, Menzies' silene
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
decumbent to erect, simple or branched, leafy throughout, 5–30(–70) cm, usually glandular-puberulent distally, proximal pubescence varying from short and sparse to multicellular, crinkled and deflexed, glandular or not.
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.
2 per node, sessile or short-petiolate;
blade usually oblanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, rarely obovate or elliptic, 2–6(–10) cm × 3–20(–35) mm, broadest at or above middle, narrowed to base, margins ciliate with short, somewhat scabrid hairs, apex acute to acuminate, puberulent to pubescent.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
cymose, or flowers axillary or solitary and terminal;
cyme loose, compound, leafy.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
slender, 0.5–3 cm, glandular-puberulent.
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.
functionally unisexual, usually bisexual;
calyx obscurely 10-veined, campanulate, 5–8 mm, ca. 1/2 as wide, herbaceous, margins dentate, lobes lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm, apex recurved, subacute to acuminate, puberulent to pilose and glandular, veins without conspicuous, pale commissures;
corolla white, clawed, 1–11/2 times calyx, claw shorter than calyx, limb oblong, 2-lobed, 1.5–3 mm, lobes oblong, apex obtuse, appendages 2, small, 0.1–0.4 mm;
stamens in functionally staminate flowers equaling corolla, otherwise reduced and included in calyx;
stigmas 3(–4), equaling corolla in functionally pistillate flowers, otherwise included in calyx, papillate along whole length.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
green, becoming black, ovoid-ellipsoid, slightly longer than calyx, opening by 3 erect teeth which often split into 6;
carpophore ca. 1.5 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
black, not winged, broadly reniform, 0.5–1 mm, glossy, obscurely reticulate.
= (34), 48.
= 24, 48.
Silene stellata
Silene menziesii
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 menziesii is quite variable in the extent to which the inflorescence is developed and in its pubescence. This, coupled with the functionally dioecious nature of the species, has spawned a plethora of names, none of which appear to warrant recognition. The similar S. williamsii from Alaska and the Yukon Territory can be separated by its narrower lanceolate leaves that are broadest near the base and dull, usually brown, tuberculate seeds. Also, its stigmas are papillate only near the top. Silene seelyi is also very similar to S. menziesii but has dark red flowers and leaves that are smaller (to 2 cm in length) and broadest below the middle.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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