Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Silene antirrhina Linnaeus
(Sleepy Catchfly)
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Silene antirrhina is a small herb that some botanists feel is a carnivorous plant.
It has sticky red bands on the stem that trap flies and ants. Another theory about the
reason for the bands is to prevent insects from climbing up the stem and attacking the
reproductive parts. The flowers are small, with pink and emarginate (notched) petals. Silene antirrhina is found in a variety of habitats from lower elevation rocky hillsides to moist meadows at middle elevation.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Silene antirrhina, photo Russ Kleinman & Kelly Kindscher, Lake Roberts, July 15, 2007
Silene antirrhina, sticky band of this carnivorous plant with attached insects, photo Russ Kleinman & Kelly Kindscher, Lake Roberts, July 15, 2007
Silene antirrhina, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Sycamore Canyon near Cliff, April 19, 2010
Silene antirrhina, 1X field macro of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Sycamore Canyon near Cliff, April 19, 2010
Silene antirrhina, lateral closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Sycamore Canyon near Cliff, April 19, 2010
Silene antirrhina, closeup of basal portion of plant, photo Russ Kleinman, Sycamore Canyon near Cliff, April 19, 2010
Silene antirrhina, plant measured with standard 15cm rule, photo Russ Kleinman, Sycamore Canyon near Cliff, April 19, 2010
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