Silene laciniata
Encyclopedia
Silene laciniata is a herbaceous flowering plant
in the genus Silene
that is commonly called Indian-pink, cardinal catchfly, Mexican campion, or Mexican-pink. It is native to the southwestern United States from California
to Texas
, as well as northern Mexico.
This is a perennial herb producing one or more decumbent to erect stems which may exceed a meter in height. The slender, branching stem is glandular and sticky. The lance-shaped leaves are up to about 10 centimeters long by 2 wide, with smaller ones occurring on upper parts of the plant. The inflorescence
may have one flower or many, each on a long pedicel
. The flower has a tubular green or reddish calyx of fused sepal
s which is lined with ten prominent veins. The five bright red petals are each divided deeply into 4 to 6 long, pointed lobes, sometimes appearing fringed.
There are at least four subspecies including:
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the genus Silene
Silene
Silene is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Common names include campion and catchfly....
that is commonly called Indian-pink, cardinal catchfly, Mexican campion, or Mexican-pink. It is native to the southwestern United States from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, as well as northern Mexico.
This is a perennial herb producing one or more decumbent to erect stems which may exceed a meter in height. The slender, branching stem is glandular and sticky. The lance-shaped leaves are up to about 10 centimeters long by 2 wide, with smaller ones occurring on upper parts of the plant. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
may have one flower or many, each on a long pedicel
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
. The flower has a tubular green or reddish calyx of fused sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s which is lined with ten prominent veins. The five bright red petals are each divided deeply into 4 to 6 long, pointed lobes, sometimes appearing fringed.
There are at least four subspecies including:
- Silene laciniata subsp. brandegeei
- Silene laciniata subsp. californica
- Silene laciniata subsp. greggii
- Silene laciniata subsp. laciniata