Silene ovata

Plants perennial, rhizomatous; rhizome creeping. Stems erect, usually simple, 30–150 cm, with short, dense, eglandular pubescence, sparsely so toward base. Leaves sessile, 2 per node; blade prominently 3–5-veined, ovate-acuminate, round at base, (4–)6–10(–13) cm × (20–)30–50(–90) mm, appressed-pubescent on both surfaces. Inflorescences paniculate, narrow, many-flowered, open, bracteate, pedunculate, 10–50 × 3–5 cm, densely puberulent; bracts narrowly lanceolate, 3–15 mm, apex acuminate; peduncle ascending. Pedicels ascending, recurved near apex, ca. equaling calyx. Flowers nocturnal; calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular to narrowly campanulate and 6–9 × 3–4 mm in flower, turbinate and 10–12 × 4–5 mm in fruit, narrowed proximally around carpophore, veins parallel, green, broad, with pale commissures, puberulent, sometimes with few glands, lobes triangular-acute, 2–3 mm; corolla white, clawed, claw equaling calyx, broadened into limb, limb obtriangular, deeply lobed, 7–9 mm, lobes ca. 8, linear, appendages minute; stamens slightly longer than corolla; styles 3, ca. 2 times as long as corolla. Capsules narrowly ovoid, slightly longer than calyx, opening by 3 (splitting into 6) ascending teeth; carpophore 2–2.5 mm. Seeds dark brown, reniform, 0.8–1.5 mm, shallowly tuberculate. 2n = 48.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Rich woods
Elevation: 1000-1900 m

Ala., Ark., Ga., Ky., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Silene ovata is a very distinctive species with large, ovate, acuminate, sessile, paired leaves, and very narrowly lobed white petals. The flowers open at night and are moth-pollinated.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa