Silene csereii Baumg.

Smooth Catchfly

© SRTurner

Family - Caryophyllaceae

Stem - Ascending to erect, to 75 cm, glabrous and usually strongly glaucous.

	Stem and leaves.
© SRTurner

Leaves - Basal rosette present but beginning to wither at flowering. Cauline leaves opposite, sessile and strongly clasping, simple, entire, thickened and somewhat succulent, glabrous, glaucous.

	Leaves.
© SRTurner

Inflorescence - Slender, elongated, terminal panicles.

	Inflorescence.
© SRTurner

Calyx - To 1 cm long, faintly nerved, somewhat inflated, ellipsoid, glabrous, glaucous.

	Calyx and styles.
© SRTurner

Flower - Flowers perfect. Petals 5, to 1.5 cm long, deeply cleft, white. Stamens 10. Styles 3.

	Corolla, 7:30 a.m.
© SRTurner

	Corollas, 11:30 a.m.
© SRTurner

Flowering - May - September.

Habitat

Origin - Native to Europe.

Other info. - This species is easily recognized by the strong glaucousness of all parts of the plant, its thickened, succulent leaves, and white flowers. As is common with members of this genus, the flowers are fully open only in the early morning, closing by noon, especially on sunny days. The plant seems partial to barren mine tailings, surviving in this harsh environment which supports little else.

Photographs taken at St. Joe State Park, St. Francois County, MO, 6-2-2013, and at Missouri Mines State Historic Site, St. Francois County, MO, 5-17-2018 (SRTurner).