Silene stellata

Native

Disturbed sites.

May to August

Bright white

12″ to 32″

This is a 12″ to 32″ tall, erect, perennial forb that rises on several stems from a deep, thick taproot.

The stems are erect, unbranched, swollen at the nodes, and densely covered with short hairs.

The stem leaves near the base and those just below the inflorescence are in opposite pairs. Middle stem leaves are in whorls of 4. They are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 1″ to 4″ long, from a little more than ⅛″ to 1½″ wide, largest in the middle of the plants. They taper gradually to a pointed tip with concave sides along the tip. They are attached to the stem without a leaf stalk. The upper surface is sparsely hairy, the lower surface is hairy. The margins are untoothed.

At the end of the stem is a pyramidal inflorescence with a main stem and branches. The stem and branches of the inflorescence are hairless. Flowers on the lower, longer branches mature earlier than those on the shorter, upper ones.

The sepals are fused at the base into a tube (calyx) terminating in 5 short lobes. The calyx is ¼″ to almost ½″ long and wide, and is not contracted at the mouth or the base. It is pale green and broadly bell-shaped. It has 10 obscure, equal veins.

Flowers are about ¾″ wide when fully open, and are on stalks that are ½ to 3 times as long as the calyx. The calyx and flower stalk may be either hairless and smooth or densely covered with short hairs and rough to the touch (see comment below).

The 5 petals are bright white, frilly, widely spreading, about two times longer than the calyx, with a stalk-like narrow base (claw). They are divided along the upper half of their length into 4 to 12 long narrow lobes. The 10 stamens are as long as the petals. The 3 styles are longer than the petals. The flowers are not fragrant. They open in the evening and close up again in bright sunlight.

The fruit is a green, hairless, egg-shaped, 3-chambered capsule the same size as the calyx, with 6 teeth at the top.

This plant is easily recognized by its fringed petals and whorled leaves.