Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin

Silene latifolia Poir.

Family: Caryophyllaceae

bladder campion, white campion, white cockle

[Lychnis alba Mill., more...]

Merel R. Black

Kenneth J. Sytsma

University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)

Open Interactive Map

Etymology: Silene: probably from Greek sialon, "saliva," referring to gummy exudation on stems, and/or named for Silenus, intoxicated foster-father of Bacchus (god of wine) who was covered with foam, much like the glandular secretions of many species of this genus.
Plants: erect, biennial/perennial, 12"-40" tall forb usually hairy with glands toward the top
Leaves: up to 10 pairs along the stem; lower stalked, upper stalkless
Flowers: white, 5-parted, 1"-1 1/3" wide, fragrant, stalked, 5 styles, sepals tubular with purple ridges and inflating with age, petals deeply 2-lobed, opening in the evening; inflorescence with many branches; blooms June-Oct.
Fruits: seeds gray
Habitat: disturbed sites

A ubiquitous European weed known in the state since 1878 and found in fields, roadsides, shores, railroad tracks, vacant lots, forest edges, and disturbed prairies. This species begins flowering in spring and lasts into the late fall. Staminate plants have calyces with 10 veins, while pistillate plants have calyces with 20 veins. This species resembles the far less common S. noctiflora, which has perfect flowers whose calyces are all 10-veined and have more prominent white glabrous areas between the veins. Silene dioica (L.) Clairv. has been attributed to Wisconsin, but none of our specimens have adequate label data to determine their provenance. That species is also dioecious but differs in having pink petals.