Silene stellata
Silene williamsii
starry campion, widow's frill
Williams' catchfly
several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base.
several–many, decumbent to erect, much-branched and sometimes matted, leafy, 5–30 cm, pubescent and glandular, at least 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.
2 per node, leafy above, sessile;
blade narrowly lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, broadest proximally, narrowed to base, 1–5 cm × 3–8 mm, apex acute, short-pubescent and ± glandular on both surfaces.
paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent;
bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm.
cymose, loose, leafy, compound, or flowers terminal, axillary in distal nodes.
straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous.
0.5–1(–3) cm, glandular-pubescent.
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.
unisexual, all plants having both staminate and pistillate flowers;
calyx obscurely 10-veined, ovate-campanulate, 9–11 × 4–6 mm, herbaceous, papery, pubescence rather dense, glandular, ± obscuring veins, veins slender, without conspicuous pale commissures, lobes lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, apex acute to acuminate;
corolla white, clawed, claw shorter than calyx, limb oblong, 2-lobed, 1.5–3 mm, lobes lanceolate, apex acute, appendages linear, 0.3–0.5 mm;
stamens equaling corolla;
stigmas 3, slender, equaling corolla, papillate only at tip.
globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth;
carpophore 2–3 mm.
straw colored, ovoid-ellipsoid, slightly longer than calyx, opening by 6 teeth;
carpophore ca. 1 mm.
dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate.
dull brown, not winged, angular-reniform, ca. 1 mm, tuberculate.
= (34), 48.
= 24.
Silene stellata
Silene williamsii
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 williamsii is similar to S. menziesii but is readily separated by its leaves, which are broadest below the middle, its dull tuberculate seeds, and its stigmas, which are papillate only at the tip. It is also monoecious instead of functionally dioecious.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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