Silene dichotoma is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name forked catchfly.[1][2] It is native to Eurasia and it is known in other parts of the temperate world, such as sections of North America, where it is a weed that grows in disturbed habitat. It is an annual herb growing up to 80 centimeters tall. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 8 centimeters long on the lower stem and are smaller higher up. Each flower is encapsulated in an inflated calyx of sepals lined with ten veins. It is open at the tip, revealing five white to red petals, each with two lobes and sometimes taking a curled form.
| Silene dichotoma | |
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| Silene dichotoma | |
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| Flowers, showing hairs on calyx | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Silene |
| Species: | S. dichotoma
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| Binomial name | |
| Silene dichotoma | |
References
edit- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Silene dichotoma". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
External links
edit- Jepson Manual Treatment
- "Silene dichotoma". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
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