Silene coniflora

Nees ex de Candolle

in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 371. 1824.

Common names: Multinerved catchfly
Introduced
Synonyms: Silene multinervia S. Watson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 179. Mentioned on page 169, 180.

Plants annual; taproot slender. Stems erect, simple or branched, 20–65 cm, glandular-pubescent. Leaves: proximal forming rosette, blade oblanceolate, spatulate, 3–8(–12) cm × 5–13(–25) mm, apex ± obtuse, sparingly pubescent and glandular; cauline reduced distally, blade lanceolate, 1–7 cm × 2–15 mm, apex ± acute, sparingly pubescent and glandular. Inflorescences dichasiate, open, bracteate; bracts leaflike, to 15 mm. Pedicels ascending, 1–3(–5) cm, densely glandular-pubescent, viscid. Flowers: calyx prominently 20–25-veined, ovate-conic, 8–12 mm, margins dentate, coarsely pubescent, glandular, lobes erect, narrowly lanceolate, 2–3 mm, margins membranous ca. 1/4 length of calyx; corolla inconspicuous, cream, purple tinged adaxially, dull orange abaxially, equaling or slightly longer than calyx, limb ovate, 1–3 mm, apex notched, appendages absent, auricles round, small; stamens shorter than corolla; stigmas 3, shorter than corolla. Capsules tightly enclosed in calyx, ovoid, with narrow opening, opening by 6 triangular teeth ca. 1 mm; carpophore ca. 1 mm. Seeds dark brown to black, rotund, 0.6–1 mm broad, papillate. 2n = 20 (Asia).


Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: Open places, oak parklands, especially after burning
Elevation: 0-2000 m

Distribution

V5 358-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Calif., Mexico (Baja California), Asia.

Discussion

Silene coniflora apparently was introduced into North America in the early days of European exploration and settlement of the Pacific coast. It occurs as a native species from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The report by C. V. Piper (1906) of its occurrence in Washington is based on a specimen of S. conica. I have been unable to confirm the statement by M. E. Peck (1961) that S. multinervia is “sparingly introduced” along the coast of Oregon.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Silene coniflora"
John K. Morton +
Nees ex de Candolle +
Multinerved catchfly +
Calif. +, Mexico (Baja California) +  and Asia. +
0-2000 m +
Open places, oak parklands, especially after burning +
Flowering spring–early summer. +
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
Introduced +
Silene multinervia +
Silene coniflora +
species +