Silene stellata

(Linnaeus) W. T. Aiton in W. Aiton and W. T. Aiton

in W. Aiton and W. T. Aiton, Hortus Kew. 3: 84. 1811.

Common names: Starry campion widow’s frill
Endemic
Basionym: Cucubalus stellatus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 414. 1753
Synonyms: Silene scabrella (Nieuwland) G. N. Jones Silene stellata var. scabrella (Nieuwland) E. J. Palmer & Steyermark
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 207. Mentioned on page 169, 208.

Plants perennial; taproot thick; caudex branched. Stems several, simple proximal to inflorescence, 30–80 cm, puberulent, becoming subglabrous near base. Leaves withering proximally, in whorls of 4, ± sessile to short-petiolate, largest in midstem region; blade lanceolate to ovatelanceolate, 3–10 cm × 4–40 mm, apex acuminate, puberulent on both surfaces, sparsely so adaxially. Inflorescences paniculate, open, bracteate, bracteolate, branches elongate, puberulent; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 2–15 mm. Pedicels straight, often with 1 or 2 pairs of bracteoles, slender, 1/2–3 times calyx, glabrous or scabrous-puberulous. Flowers: 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. Capsules globose, opening by 3 broadly triangular teeth; carpophore 2–3 mm. Seeds dark-brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, papillate. 2n = (34), 48.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Rich deciduous woods, river flats, tall-grass prairies
Elevation: 0-1300 m

Distribution

V5 423-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

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.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"/2" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Silene stellata"
awned +  and not hooded +
puberulent +
acuminate +
John K. Morton +
(Linnaeus) W. T. Aiton in W. Aiton and W. T. Aiton +
Cucubalus stellatus +
dentate +, emarginate to 2-fid +  and entire +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
lanceolate +  and ovatelanceolate +
rarely +  and not succulent +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
linear-lanceolate +
reduced +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
scarious +  and herbaceous +
linear-lanceolate +
elongate +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
obtriangular;campanulate +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
conspicuous +
Starry campion +  and widow’s frill +
2 times longer than calyx +
dissected +  and variously--shaped +
dish--shaped +
expanded +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, S.Dak. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Vt. +, Va. +, W.Va. +  and Wis. +
0-1300 m +
peripheral +
subsessile +  and sessile +
conspicuous +
glandular-pubescent +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
stalked +  and simple +
Rich deciduous woods, river flats, tall-grass prairies +
bracteolate +, bracteate +  and open +
less sessile +  and short-petiolate +
whorled +  and opposite +
connate +
largest +
conspicuous +
divided;narrowed;obtriangular +
purplish +  and green +
4 (?) +  and 12 (?) +
triangular +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
membranous +
swollen +
3 +  and 5 +
crassinucellate +  and bitegmic +
campylotropous +
scabrous-puberulous +  and glabrous +
1/2-3 times calyx +
off-white tinged with purple +, dusky purple +, scarlet +, pink +  and white +
fugacious +
Flowering summer. +
in W. Aiton and W. T. Aiton, Hortus Kew. +
dark-brown +
papillate +
reniform +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
2.8 cm28 mm <br />0.028 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
persistent +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.8 cm28 mm <br />0.028 m <br />) +
rhizomatous +  and stoloniferous +
fewer +  and 10 +
prostrate +, decumbent +  and sprawling +
ascending;erect +
subglabrous +  and puberulent +
30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
[30 +, 4 +, 5 +  and 3 +
papillate +
distinct +
filiform +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Silene scabrella +  and Silene stellata var. scabrella +
Silene stellata +
species +
triangular +
10-30-veined +
purplish +, whitish +  and green +
inflated +, terete +, cylindric +  and campanulate urceolate or clavate +
membranous +
3 (?) +  and 5 (?) +
stoloniferous +, rhizomatous +  and taprooted +
pubescence of simple hairs or stalked glands +  and glabrous +