Biology:Silene stellata
| Silene stellata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Silene |
| Species: | S. stellata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Silene stellata (L.) W.T. Aiton
| |
Silene stellata, known by the common names starry campion, widow's frill, and whorled catchfly, is a perennial herbaceous summer forb with white flowers, native to the central and eastern United States . It grows in habitats such as forests, river flats, and tall grass prairies.
Description
S. stellata grows to a height of 0.3–1 metre (1–3 ft), with one or multiple stems rising from the rootstock. The stems are a purplish color near the bottom and a pale green toward the top, except at leaf nodes, which are also a purplish color. Leaves are lanceolate, sessile, and have a smooth margin. They are opposite near the bottom of the plant and in whorls of 4 on the rest of the stem. Leaves are up to 10 centimetres (4 in) long and 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) wide. The inflorescence is a loose panicle consisting of several branches, each with 1 to 6 or more white flowers with 5 petals. Flowers are up to 1.9 centimetres (0.75 in) wide.[1] The flowers have no scent.[2]
Etymology
Silene is from the Greek god Silenus. Stellata means "star-shaped" in Latin.
Distribution and habitat
The plant can be found in woods, river flats, and tall grass prairies, and it prefers a dry to mesic habitat with light shade or partial sun.[2][3] It is native to the central and eastern United States, from Texas to the west and Vermont to the east and north.[4]
Ecology
S. stellata blooms from June to September for 3 to 4 weeks.[5] The white flowers close when there is bright sun.[1] Moths are the primary pollinators, although butterflies also pollinate the flowers.[2] The plant is a host for the caterpillars of the Hadena ectypa moth.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ANPS, Webmaster (21 July 2014). "Know Your Natives – Starry Campion" (in en). https://anps.org/2014/07/21/know-your-natives-starry-campion/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Starry Campion (Silene stellata)". https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/starry_campion.htm.
- ↑ "Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Silene stellata (L.) Ait. F.". http://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=2471&search=Search.
- ↑ "USDA Plants Database". http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SIST.
- ↑ "Silene stellata (Starry Campion, Whorled Catchfly, Widowsfrill, Widow's Frill) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/silene-stellata/.
- ↑ "HOSTS - The Hostplants and Caterpillars Database at the Natural History Museum". https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/list.dsml?searchPageURL=index.dsml&Familyqtype=starts+with&Family=&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&PFamily=&Genusqtype=starts+with&Genus=&PGenusqtype=starts+with&PGenus=silene&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Species=&PSpeciesqtype=starts+with&PSpecies=stellata&Country=&sort=Family.
Wikidata ☰ Q7514503 entry
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