Silene stellata
Silene parishii
starry campion, widow's frill
Parish's campion, Parish's catchfly
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
many, decumbent to erect, usually simple, 10–40 cm, woody, pilose and glandular (rarely eglandular proximally).
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 5–8 pairs, sessile but proximal ones narrowed into pseudopetiole, largest in mid-stem region, reduced proximally, scalelike at base, blade narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate-elliptic or obovate, 2–6 cm × 3–20 mm, apex acute and acuminate, usually thick, leathery, densely puberulent and viscid-glandular or eglandular.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
cymose, open or congested, 3–15(–30)-flowered, sometimes compound, leafy.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
to 1(–1.5) cm, shortly pilose, viscid-glandular, flowers sometimes sessile.
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 10-veined, tubular, clavate in fruit, constricted proximally around carpophore, (20–)25–30 × 4–7 mm, papery, densely glandular-puberulent, viscid, veins parallel, green, with pale commissures, lobes narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 5–8 mm, herbaceous;
corolla pale greenish yellow to white, clawed, claw equaling calyx, ligulate, as broad as limb, limb 7–8 mm, deeply laciniate into 6 or more linear lobes, appendages oblong, laciniate, 2 mm;
stamens equaling calyx;
styles 3, exserted.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
equaling calyx, opening by 6 ascending teeth;
carpophore ca. 3 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
brown, reniform, 1.5–2 mm, margins papillate;
papillae large, inflated.
= (34), 48.
= 48.
Silene stellata
Silene parishii
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 parishii varies considerably in pubescence and leaf shape. C. L. Hitchcock and B. Maguire (1947) recognized three varieties on the basis of this variation. However, the characters vary independently and have only a weak geographical correlation. Hence recognition of the three varieties serves little useful purpose.
Silene parishii is confined to the mountains of southern California.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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