Parish's Catchfly

Silene parishii varies considerably in pubescence and leaf shape. C. L. Hitchcock and B. Maguire (1947) recognized three varieties on the basis of this variation. However, the characters vary independently and have only a weak geographical correlation. Hence recognition of the three varieties serves little useful purpose.

Silene parishii is confined to the mountains of southern California.

Plants perennial; taproot stout; caudex much-branched, woody. Stems many, decumbent to erect, usually simple, 10-40 cm, woody, pilose and glandular (rarely eglandular proximally). Leaves in 5-8 pairs, sessile but proximal ones narrowed into pseudopetiole, largest in mid-stem region, reduced proximally, scalelike at base, blade narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate-elliptic or obovate, 2-6 cm × 3-20 mm, apex acute and acuminate, usually thick, leathery, densely puberulent and viscid-glandular or eglandular. Inflorescences cymose, open or congested, 3-15(-30)-flowered, sometimes compound, leafy. Pedicels to 1(-1.5) cm, shortly pilose, viscid-glandular, flowers sometimes sessile. Flowers: calyx prominently 10-veined, tubular, clavate in fruit, constricted proximally around carpophore, (20-)25-30 × 4-7 mm, papery, densely glandular-puberulent, viscid, veins parallel, green, with pale commissures, lobes narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 5-8 mm, herbaceous; corolla pale greenish yellow to white, clawed, claw equaling calyx, ligulate, as broad as limb, limb 7-8 mm, deeply laciniate into 6 or more linear lobes, appendages oblong, laciniate, 2 mm; stamens equaling calyx; styles 3, exserted. Capsules equaling calyx, opening by 6 ascending teeth; carpophore ca. 3 mm. Seeds brown, reniform, 1.5-2 mm, margins papillate; papillae large, inflated. 2n = 48.

Calif.

Flowering spring and summer.

Rocky ledges and slopes, stream banks, open coniferous woodlands; 1400-3400m.

Silene parishii var. latifolia C. L. Hitchcock & Maguire; S. parishii var. viscida C. L. Hitchcock & Maguire

Silene parishii is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name Parish's catchfly. It is endemic to southern California, where it is known from several of the local mountain ranges, including the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto Mountains. It grows in rocky, forested habitat, sometimes in the alpine climates of the higher peaks. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody, branching caudex and taproot, sending up several decumbent or erect stems 10 to 40 centimetres tall. The oppositely arranged leaves line the stems, the largest ones located at the middle of each stem. Leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval and up to 6 centimetres long. They are thick and leathery, and sometimes glandular and sticky. Each flower is encapsulated in a tubular calyx of fused sepals which may be nearly 3 centimetres long. It is greenish with ten veins and a coating of glandular hairs. The five petals are yellowish in colour and each has about six long, fringelike lobes at the tip.