Bridges' Catchfly

Silene bridgesii is similar to S. lemmonii but usually can be distinguished by its larger size, broader and larger leaves, the near-absence of sterile basal shoots, and larger floral parts and fruits. Although S. longistylis has often been cited as a synonym of S. lemmonii, examination of the holotype (Henderson s.n., GH) indicates that it is referable to S. bridgesii.

Silene bridgesii is found in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades.

Plants perennial; taproot stout; caudex much-branched, woody. Flowering stems erect, with 3-6 pairs of leaves below inflorescence, 30-80 cm, short-pubescent, glandular and somewhat viscid distally. Leaves: proximal petiolate, blade oblanceolate, 3-6(-8) cm × 5-15 mm (including petiole), base tapered into short petiole, apex acute to obtuse and apiculate, short-pubescent on both surfaces, pubescence rather sparse adaxially; cauline leaves sessile, blade elliptic-lanceolate, 2-6 cm × 5-15 mm. Inflorescences branched, several-many-flowered, open, bracteate, flowering portion to 15 cm and ca. 1/ 2 as broad, glandular and viscid; cymules usually 1-3-flowered; bracts narrowly lanceolate, shorter than pedicel; peduncle shorter than internodes. Pedicels divaricate, sharply bent distally, 5-15 mm. Flowers nodding; calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular to campanulate, umbilicate but narrowed at base, lobed, 9-11 × 3-5 mm in flower, in fruit ovate to turbinate, 5-8 mm broad, viscid-pubescent, veins parallel, green, papery between; lobes 5, narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, 2-3 mm, ciliate; corolla ± white, often greenish abaxially and pink tinged, 2 times calyx; petals 2-lobed, margins entire to erose, appendages linear, narrow, 1-2.5 mm; stamens often long-exserted; filaments pubescent at base; styles persistent, 3, long-exserted, filamentous, exceeding 2 times calyx. Capsules broadly ovoid, ca. equaling calyx, opening by 6 ascending, triangular teeth; carpophore 2-3 mm. Seeds reddish brown, reniform, 1.2-1.8 mm broad, coarsely papillate. 2n = 48.

Calif., Oreg.

Flowering summer.

Coniferous forest openings and mixed woodlands, dry slopes; 500-2800m.

Silene engelmannii Rohrbach; S. incompta A. Gray; S. longistylis Engelmann ex S. Watson

Silene bridgesii is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name Bridges' catchfly. It is native to California, where it can be found throughout the Sierra Nevada and the southern reaches of the Cascade Range to the north, its distribution possibly extending into Oregon. It grows in mountain forests and woodlands. It is a perennial herb growing from a taproot and woody caudex unit, its stem decumbent or growing erect to half a meter or more in height. It is hairy, the upper hairs glandular, making the plant sticky in texture. The lower leaves are widely lance-shaped, up to 8 centimeters long by 1.5 wide. Upper leaves are smaller. Flowers occur in a terminal cyme at the top of the stem, as well as in some of the leaf axils, where they nod or hang like a bell. Each has a hairy, glandular calyx of fused sepals with ten veins. The calyx is open at the tip, revealing five white, pinkish, or greenish petals each with two rectangular lobes at the tip. The very long stamens and three styles protrude from the flower's center.