Silene lemmonii
Encyclopedia
Silene lemmonii is a species of flowering plant in the pink family
known by the common name Lemmon's catchfly. It is native to the mountains of Oregon
and California
, where it grows in many types of woodland and forest habitat, often in moist areas. It is a perennial herb producing several stems and shoots from a woody, branching caudex
. The decumbent or erect stems may be up to 45 centimeters long and are hairy, the hairs on the upper parts glandular. Most of the leaves are located low on the plant and are oval to lance-shaped, measuring a few centimeters in length; smaller leaves may occur on the upper stem. The inflorescence
bears 1 to 7 nodding flowers on sticky glandular stalks. The moth-pollinated
flower has a tubular or inflated calyx of fused sepal
s open at the tip to reveal five petals. The petals are whitish, yellowish, or pinkish, and their tips are deeply divided into four narrow, sometimes hairlike lobes that may curl and tangle. The long stamen
s protrude from the mouth of the flower, and the three whiskerlike styles
protrude even farther.
Caryophyllaceae
The Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranthaceae, Cactaceae and Polygonaceae...
known by the common name Lemmon's catchfly. It is native to the mountains of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and 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...
, where it grows in many types of woodland and forest habitat, often in moist areas. It is a perennial herb producing several stems and shoots from a woody, branching caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. The decumbent or erect stems may be up to 45 centimeters long and are hairy, the hairs on the upper parts glandular. Most of the leaves are located low on the plant and are oval to lance-shaped, measuring a few centimeters in length; smaller leaves may occur on the upper stem. 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...
bears 1 to 7 nodding flowers on sticky glandular stalks. The moth-pollinated
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
flower has a tubular or inflated 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 open at the tip to reveal five petals. The petals are whitish, yellowish, or pinkish, and their tips are deeply divided into four narrow, sometimes hairlike lobes that may curl and tangle. The long stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s protrude from the mouth of the flower, and the three whiskerlike styles
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
protrude even farther.