Silene aperta Greene

A deeply lobed calyx and grasslike leaves give Silene aperta a very distinct appearance. The species is found only in Tulare County.

Plants perennial, cespitose, puberulent throughout; caudex woody, branched, with clusters of leaves. Stems several, erect, not much-branched, slender, 15-60 cm, flowering above middle. Leaves: cauline in 2-4 pairs, gradually reduced distally, blade linear with broadened base, 1-8 cm × 1-2 mm, apex acute; basal leaves tending to wither by flowering time, blade with midrib present, linear-oblanceolate, 5-12 cm × 1-4 mm, apex acute. Inflorescences few-flowered, bracteate, narrow, flowers terminal and axillary; bracts linear, 2-10 mm. Pedicels ascending, straight, slender, very short in bud but equaling or exceeding flower at anthesis. Flowers: calyx 10-veined, campanulate, lobed to middle or below, 6-10 mm; lobes 6, recurved, 1-3-veined, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, margins membranous, ciliate, apex acute; petals white to pale greenish, lobed, clawed, 12-20 mm including claw, ca. 2 times length of calyx; lobes 4, small, 1.5-2 mm, claw woolly towards base, appendages absent; stamens equaling petals; filaments pubescent at base; styles 3, shorter than to equaling stamens. Capsules ovoid, exceeding calyx, dehiscing with 6 spreading teeth; carpophore 1-2 mm. Seeds brown, broadly reniform, less than 1.75 mm, margins coarsely tuberculate to papillate, with concentric rings of tubercles on both faces. 2n = 48.

Calif.

Flowering Jun-Sep.

Open, grassy areas in fir and pine forests; 1800-3000m.

Silene aperta is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names naked catchfly and Tulare campion. It is endemic to Tulare County, California, where it is known only from the coniferous forests of the High Sierra Nevada. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody, branching caudex sending up several erect stems up to about 60 centimeters tall. The lower leaves are linear in shape, up to 12 centimeters long but less than one wide. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller. The flower has a hairy, tubular calyx of fused sepals with ten veins. The calyx is open at the top, revealing five white or yellow-green petals each 1 to 2 centimeters long.