(Silene vulgaris ssp. vulgaris)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | not listed |
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NatureServe | NNA - No Status Rank SNA - No Status Rank |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Bladder campion is a 8″ to 32″ tall, erect, short-lived perennial, that rises on several stems from a stout taproot. When in flower the plant tends to lean to one side under the weight of the flowers. The stems are erect or reclining on the ground at the base then upright. They are branched, rarely unbranched. They are usually hairless and are covered with a whitish, waxy coating (glaucous). Stem leaves are in opposite pairs. They are oblong to inversely lance-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end, ¾″ to 3⅛″ long, less than ¼″ to 1⅛″ wide, smaller near the inflorescence. They have a rounded, almost clasping, base. They taper gradually to a pointed tip with straight or concave sides along the tip. They are attached to the stem without a leaf stalk. They are hairless on the upper and lower surfaces. The margins are untoothed. The inflorescence is open, much-branched cluster in which each axis produces an opposite pair of lateral axes. There are 5 to 40 flowers in the inflorescence. Some plants have both male and female flowers. Other plants have female flowers only. Both flowers are ⅔″ to ¾″ wide when fully open, and are on stalks that are less than ¼″ to 1⅛″ long. The sepals are fused at the base into a tube (calyx) terminating in short lobes. The calyx is ⅓″ to ½″ long when in flower, ½″ to ¾″ long when in fruit, inflated, ¼″ to ½″ wide, and is not contracted at the mouth or the base. It is pale green, rarely purplish, papery, hairless, and smooth, not ridged. There are 20 obscure, equal veins with a network of veins between them. The veins are green at first, then become pinkish. The petals are white, about two times longer than the calyx. They can be slightly indented at the tip, two-lobed, or deeply two-lobed and appearing as 10 petals. They are inversely egg-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end, horizontally spreading, with a stalk-like narrow base (claw). The flowers are fragrant. They open during daytime. On male flowers 10 stamens protrude beyond the calyx. Female flowers have 3 styles which are 2 times longer than the calyx. The fruit is a green, hairless, egg-shaped, 3-chambered capsule the same size as the calyx, with 6 teeth at the top. |
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Height |
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8″ to 32″ |
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Flower Color |
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White |
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Similar Species |
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The pinkish swollen calyx with its network of veins distinguishes this plant from all other Silene species. Balkan catchfly (Silene csereii) has long, raceme-like primary branches in its inflorescence. The calyx is smaller, constricted at both ends, and only slightly inflated. It has 10 long and 10 short veins and does not have an obvious network of veins between them. The stalks of the stamens that support the anthers (filaments) are purple. Drummond’s campion (Silene drummondii var. drummondii) has narrow, ⅜″ wide stem leaves. Night-flowering catchfly (Silene noctiflora) male and female flowers appear on the same plant. The flowers open at night. The fruit has 6 teeth at the top. Starry campion (Silene stellata)stems are unbranched. The leaves are in whorls of 4. The petals have 4 to 12 frilly lobes. White campion (Silene latifolia ssp. alba) stems and leaves are hairy. The stems are covered with minute, short, glandular hairs near the top. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The calyx is prominently veined, and hairy, the veins often accented with purple. Female flowers have 5 styles which project barely beyond the calyx. The flowers open at night. The fruit has 5 upright teeth (appearing as 10) at the top. |
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Habitat |
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Disturbed sites. |
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Biology |
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Flowering |
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June to October |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Use |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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2/22/2023 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native to Asia, Europe, Northern Africa, Macaronesia, and the Indian subcontinent. Introduced and naturalized in North America. |
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Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) | ||
Class | Magnoliopsida (flowering plants) | ||
Subclass | Caryophyllidae | ||
Superorder | Caryophyllanae | ||
Order |
Caryophyllales (pinks, cactuses, and allies) | ||
Family |
Caryophyllaceae (pink) | ||
Subfamily | Caryophylloideae | ||
Tribe | Sileneae | ||
Genus |
Silene (catchflies) | ||
Subgenus | Behenantha | ||
Section | Behenantha | ||
Species | bladder campion (Silene vulgaris) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Ten subspecies of Silene vulgaris have been described. Only ssp. vulgaris, the nominate subspecies, occurs in North America. Some sources, including ITIS, GRIN, USDA Plants, and Flora of North America, omit the subspecies or variety in the scientific name if the nominate species or variety is the only one occurring in North America. |
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Synonyms |
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Behen vulgaris Cucubalus behen Cucubalus latifolius Cucubalus venosus Oberna commutata Silene behen var. cucubalus Silene cucubalus Silene inflata Silene inflata var. vulgaris Silene latifolia Silene latifolia var. pubescens Silene venosa Silene wallichiana |
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Common Names |
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bladder campion bladder silene cowbell maiden’s tears maiden’s-tears maidenstears rattleweed |
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Glossary
Calyx
The flower cup. May be the group of outer floral leaves (sepals) collectively, or a tube with lobes.
Clasping
Describing a leaf that wholly or partly surrounds the stem but does not fuse at the base.
Claw
A stalk-like narrowed base of some petals and sepals.
Glandular hairs
Hairs spread over aerial vegetation that secrete essential oils. The oils act to protect against herbivores and pathogens or, when on a flower part, attract pollinators. The hairs have a sticky or oily feel.
Glaucous
Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.
Raceme
An unbranched, elongated inflorescence with stalked flowers. The flowers mature from the bottom up.
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Bladder Campion (Silene Vulgaris) - 2012-08-11 W3stlander |
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About
Published on Aug 21, 2012 Silene vulgaris, Silene cucubalus or Bladder Campion is a plant species of the genus Silene of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae). ---------------------- |
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