Silene armeria

Silene armeria, commonly known as the Sweet William catchfly, is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Originally a native of Europe, it has become widespread in the United States. Perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. A small-growing form is known as dwarf catchfly. The name comes from the way in which small insects are trapped by the sticky sap exuded onto the stem. However it is not currently regarded as a carnivorous plant, though it has been identified as a carnivorous plant in the past.[1]

Silene armeria
Sweet William catchfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Silene
Species:
S. armeria
Binomial name
Silene armeria

Description
Figure from book „Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen“
Bracteate inflorescence of Sweet William catchfly (Silene armeria)
The Lithuanian former 50 litas silver Coin featuring Sweet William catchfly (Silene armeria syn. Silene lituanica)[2]

The plant between 20–70 cm in height. Leaves numerous 2.5–5 cm long, elliptic, oval, or narrowly oval, smooth. Blooming period in British Isles - Jun-Oct. Clusters of pink or lavender flowers arranged somewhat openly or compactly at end of stems. Stem hairless (glabrous) or slightly hairy with sticky areas, especially just below the cluster.

Habitat

A plant native of Europe in roadsides, weedy places. Has been introduced to North America and later escaped cultivation to become an invasive species.

Synonyms

WCSPF defines the following Silene armeria L. synonyms:[3]

  • Atocion armeria (L.) Raf.
  • Atocion armeria var. lituanicum (Zapał.) Niketić & Stevan.
  • Atocion armeria var. sparsiflorum (Schur) Niketić & Stevan.
  • Atocion armeroides Raf.
  • Atocion lituanicum (Zapał.) Tzvelev
  • Cucubalus fasciculatus Lam.
  • Lychnis armoraria Scop. (Unresolved)
  • Silene armeria var. sparsiflora Schur (Unresolved)
  • Silene lituanica Zapał. (spellling variant S. lithuanica)
  • Silene umbellata Gilib. (Unresolved)

The source marks all these WCSPF synonym entries as "low confidence" and "awaiting review".[3] Silene lituanica that has been described as species in 1911 was still considered species by Lithuanian botanists in 2009[4] and as such is included into the list of extinct and endangered species of Lithuania since 1962.

References
  1. Williams, Amy. (1913). Carnivorous plants of Ohio. The Ohio Naturalist, 13(5): 97-99.
  2. 9999.lt / 50 litas Coin featuring Lithuanian Nature, 2009
  3. theplantlist.org / Silene armeria L.
  4. Leaflet of the Lithuanian Silene coin, includes description of species and its areal.
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