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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Silene L.

SILENE L.

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Hairs eglandular and/or glandular or 0. Lvs opposite, exstipulate, linear to ovate to obovate or oblanceolate. Infl. a compact to lax regular or irregular dichasium or raceme-like monochasium or a panicle with a central axis bearing lateral dichasia; bracts leaflike or scarious; epicalyx 0. Fls ⚥ or unisexual. Calyx cylindric, ovoid or inflated, 10-, 20- or 30-veined, 5-toothed; commissures veined, not scarious. Petals 5, white to red, clawed; claw often lobed near base of limb; limb entire, emarginate or divided, sometimes 4-lobed; coronal scales variously shaped, paired at base of limb. Stamens 10. Styles 3 or (4)-5-(6 or more). Fr. an ovoid or cylindric capsule dehiscing by twice as many teeth as the styles, or by as many 2-fid teeth; carpophore very short to long. Seeds reniform, warty or ridged; faces flat or hollowed; backs flat or grooved, rarely winged.

Key

1
Calyx and stem moderately to densely hairy, usually with short glandular and long eglandular hairs, but sometimes scabrid
2
Calyx glabrous, or ciliolate on teeth; stem glabrous or rarely with sparse short hairs
10
2
Plants ⚥; fls with 10 stamens and 3 styles; capsule dehiscing with 6 teeth
3
Plants unisexual; fls with either 10 stamens or 5 styles; capsule dehiscing with (8)-10-(12) teeth
9
3
Infl. a racemose or spike-like monochasium, sometimes paired
4
Infl. a regularly branched or asymmetric dichasium or a panicle with a central axis bearing lateral 3-flowered dichasia
6
4
Pedicels 10-20 mm long; calyx (11)-12-16 mm long, with very short glandular and eglandular hairs
10. *pendula
Pedicels 2-10 mm long; calyx 7-11 mm long, with short glandular and long eglandular hairs
5
5
Monochasia single, rarely paired but then without a fl. in the axil between them, lax at fruiting; carpophore c. 0.5 mm long; seed with flat back
6 *gallica
Monochasia paired with a fl. in the axil between them, compact even at fruiting; carpophore 1-2 mm long; seed grooved on back
5. *disticha
6
Calyx 30-veined; basal lvs linear to lanceolate
3. *conica
Calyx 10-veined; basal lvs spathulate
7
7
Annual without persistent rootstock; infl. a 3-10-flowered, ± regular dichasium
8. *noctiflora
Perennial with persistent rootstock; infl. a panicle with a central axis and lateral 3-flowered dichasia
8
8
Calyx glandular-pubescent; carpophore 2-3 mm long, 1/4-1/5× length of capsule
9. *nutans
Calyx glandular- or eglandular-puberulent; carpophore 6-9 mm long, c. = capsule
*italica ζ
9
Petals white; capsule teeth erect to patent
7. *latifolia
Petals pink or red; capsule teeth revolute
4. *dioica
10
Fls in subcapitate dichasia; fruiting calyx < 3 mm wide at least below; upper lvs amplexicaul at base
1. *armeria
Fls in lax dichasia or monochasia; fruiting calyx > 5 mm wide; upper lvs narrowed to often connate bases
11
11
Calyx broadest at inflated base, weakly 20-veined; carpophore 2-3 mm long; petals white
11. *vulgaris
Calyx broadest above middle, strongly 10-ribbed or 10-winged; carpophore 3-8 mm long; petals usually pink (drying bluish), rarely white or bluish
12
12
Infl. an irregular dichasium; pedicels (2.5)-4-6-(8) cm long; seeds 0.8 mm long; styles 5
2. *coeli-rosa
Infl. a monochasium; pedicels 1-2 cm long; seeds 1.3 mm long; styles 3
10. *pendula

c. 450 spp., Europe, W. Asia, Africa, N. and S. America. Naturalised spp. 12.

As may be evident from the key to genera of Caryophyllaceae, the separation of Lychnis and Silene is difficult and sometimes artificial. The situation was summarised by McNeill, J., Canad. J. Bot. 56: 297-308 (1978). I have followed Chowdhuri, P. K., Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 22: 221-278 (1957), in the circumscription of these 2 genera.

The Silene spp. in N.Z. are mostly weeds of dry stony sites or arable land. A number of the ⚥ spp. are protandrous, but a simple dissection of the ♂-phase fl. will reveal almost mature stigmas in the floral tube, distinguishing these from the dioecious spp., in which stigmas are absent on ♂ plants. Inflorescence type is an important character in the identification of Silene spp. The main types found in N.Z. are illustrated in Fig. 51. The shape, venation, and indument of the calyx is also important, and is illustrated in Fig. 52 in which Lychnis spp. are also included.

Several spp. are sometimes cultivated in N.Z. but they are not frequent garden subjects.

Fig. 51. Silene, inflorescences (circles represent fls). A compact dichasium; B lax dichasium; C monochasium; D paired monochasia with fl. in axil; E panicle with 3-flowered paired dichasia. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5B]
Fig. 51. Silene, inflorescences (circles represent fls). A compact dichasium; B lax dichasium; C monochasium; D paired monochasia with fl. in axil; E panicle with 3-flowered paired dichasia. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5B]
Fig. 52. Silene and Lychnis, calyx. A L. chalcedonica; B L. coronaria; C L. flos-cuculi; D S. armeria; E S. coeli-rosa; F S. conica; G S. dioica; H S. disticha; I S. gallica; J S. latifolia; K S. noctiflora; L S. nutans; M S. pendula; N-O S. vulgaris, N subsp. vulgaris, O subsp. maritima. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5C]
Fig. 52. Silene and Lychnis, calyx. A L. chalcedonica; B L. coronaria; C L. flos-cuculi; D S. armeria; E S. coeli-rosa; F S. conica; G S. dioica; H S. disticha; I S. gallica; J S. latifolia; K S. noctiflora; L S. nutans; M S. pendula; N-O S. vulgaris, N subsp. vulgaris, O subsp. maritima. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5C]
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