Nomenclature

Species name:

Silene colorata   Poir.

Author(s):

Jean Louis Marie Poiret;
   France, 1755-1834

General names:

Mediterranean Catchfly, Pink Pirouette

Maltese name:

Ilsien l-għasfur

Plant Family:

Caryophyllaceae   (Pink Family)

Name Derivation:

Silene = probably from the Greek "sialon" (=saliva) referring to the gummy exudation on the stems. Another derivation could come from the name Silenus, the intoxicated foster-father of Bacchus (god of wine) who was covered with foam, much like the glandular secretions of many species of this Genus (Latin);
colorata = colourful, referring either to the bright pink-purple colour of the petals or the colourful calyx (maroon-striped) (Latin).

Synonyms:

Silene canescens

Remarks:

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Botanical Data

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Annual

Habitat:

Rocky waysides, uncultivated fields, soily garigues, traffic islands.

Frequency:

Very Common

Sources in Malta:

Very Common throughout Malta and Gozo. Few examples include Mistra, Mellieha, Ghajn Tuffieha, Siggiewi, Rabat and Mtarfa.

Plant Height:

Ascending up to 50cm.

Flowering Time:

Jan - May

Poison:

Not known.

An attractive low plant mainly because of its bright pink/purple flowers which contrasts well with the green background. Plant is an ascending annual and will not grow more than half a meter long. The stem is green and have very fine silky hairs. Branching is simple and occurs at the base of the stem and this is accompanied by an opposite pair of leaves at the branching point.

Leaves are small and not very prominent. They are spoon shaped (lower ones) or rounded lanceolate (upper ones) of not more than 3cm length. The leaves also feel silky when rubbed due its fine hairs. Leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stem and pairs are usually at right angles to the adjecent ones above or below (decussate arrangement).

Apart the flower corolla, one of the most prominent parts of the plant is the calyx. It has a vase like structure, being pale green in colour, with ten contrasting dark purple/wine longitudinal striping ribs. The calyx is made up of 5 fused sepals. Several flowers are borne along the flowering stem.

The flower is made up of 5 petals, each being bi-lobed, giving the observer a false impression that there are 10 slim petals. Joined with every petal are 2 stamens of different filament length. At the center of the flower there is a short, white, 10-tooth, crown-like structure formed by 2 dented structures from each petal. From this crown projects out the 5 stamens, and the 3 central styles with a stigma each.

When the flower dies off, the calyx persists where the capsule-shaped fruit develops inside. It produces many small brown seeds, which roughly have a kidney shaped, a rough seed coat and a deep groove.

Additional Information

Personal Observations

Species name
There was a large difficulty to identify the exact species name of this plant. 2 botanical names which describes this Silene present on the Maltese islands were found. These were:
a)   Silene colorata
b)   Silene sericea.

It could be either that both names apply to the same plant (synonyms) or the names apply to two different species they are very close related. Both possibilities were studied and the name Silene colorata should be used for the reasons described below. [SM]

The book Wild flowers of the Mediterranean [273], the author David Burnie describes the plant S. sericea to have single flowers, or rarely up to 2-3 flower clusters. It is assumed that he meant single or 2-3 flowers per flowering stem. The species in Malta forms several flowers along the stem. In addition, David Burnie mentions that a "related species, the Silene colorata found in the E. Mediterranean, is similar but has flowers borne in clusters."

Additionally, a lecturer of botany in Malta, Mr. Edwin Lanfranco, said that S. sericea and S. colorata are closely-related species that are still diverging from each other genetically (hence, probably a rather young genus). He also stated that the only really reliable feature that can distinguish between S. colorata and S. sericea are the seeds. The seeds of S. sericea have a less pronounced groove and lack wings wheras those of S. colorata are winged [EL]. Unfortunately I don't have seeds or photos of the seeds of the S. sericea for comparison but the seeds of the species in Malta has a well defined groove.   .[SM]

More confusion about the nomenclature
On some local botanical/environmental books, including internet sites, this plant is given the English name "red campion". (Example this page from a Maltese site www.my-malta.com). The fact is that this species does not yet have an official vernicular (english) word. [WWW-14] The Latin name for the "red campion" is NOT S. colorata but it is Silene dioica [WWW-14], [272], [WWW-02].

Photo Gallery

Close up photo of the flower consisting of 5 petals wich fork into 2 lobes, making appear as if the flowers is made up of 10 slim petals.

Photo of a mature flower showing the 3 long and feathery white stigma. The colour of the petals are dark because they are in the shade.

Photo of flower (side view) showing the conspicuous vase-like calyx with longitudinal purple ribs. Also visible are the three feathery stigma.

Close up photo of flower showing the fully mature stamens and its pollen.

Close up photo of flower having stamens with white pollen.

Close up photo of flower.

Photo of flower showing the protuding stamens from the central, white, crown-shaped structure of the flower.

Photo of flower (back view) showing in detail the vase-shaped calyx decorated with several purple-brown longitudinal ribs.

Side-view photo of flowers showing the petals being slightly curved in.

Close up photo of central part of flower (side view), showing in detail the white crown-like structure and 3 of the stamens which produce cream/white pollen. The old flower at the right possess the 3 long, curved and feathery stigma.

Scanned image of the purple stamens and styles (petals removed). There are 10 stamens per flower of unequal length and maturity. (2 stamens missing in the photo).

Scanned and annotated image of one petal and its adjoined stamens.

Scanned image of the flower.

Scanned image of flower against a dark background.

Scanned image of 3 flowers at different maturity stages. stamens are first to develop in young flowers, which eventually fall off leaving only the 3 white styles which develop later in older flowers.

Scanned image of dissected petals showing details from every plane of view. Note the adjoined stamens and the 2 white teeth forming the crown.

Scanned image of a longitudinal section of a mature flower showing reproductive organs and their arrangement.

Scanned image of a longitudinal section of a young flower showing reproductive organs of the plant and their arrangement.

Scanned image of the calyx (bud) which have a vase-shaped structure with 10 longitudinal purple ribs. The fruit and the buds are quite similar in structure.

Photo of the colourful vase shaped fruit in situ. One of the fruit is ripe and has a light brown colour. It forms an opening at the top from which the brown seeds inside escape the fruit with swaying of the stem by wind.

Close up photo of stem showing its simple branching and the fine white bristles/hair.

Photo of the plant in situ producing several eye-catching purple flowers.

Photo of the plant in situ. It is a low ascending plant reaching a maximum height of about 50cm.

Scanned image of plant showing various characteristics as annotated on the image itself.

Scanned image of 2 young (left side) and 2 adult leaves. They are simple spatulate leaves with an entire smooth margin.

Photo of several flowers taken at Dingli (Hal-Tartarni Street) on Mar 2005. The fern-like leaves are not those of the Silene.

Group of closely packed flowers taken at a traffic island in Mtarfa (Ghajn Qajjet Street) on Mar 2003.

Photo of many flowers, very common in Malta in Feb-Apr.

Photo of a ripe fruit being a capsule with crown shaped mouth. Visible are the numerous brown seeds inside.

Scanned image of seed capsule, clearly showing that it is divided into 3 compartments.

Magnified scanned image of seeds. They are dark-brown, kidney shaped seeds with the outer curved part having a rough texture with several stiff projections. They also have a well developed longitudinal groove.

Magnified image of seeds under light microscope, showing their kidney-shaped structure.

Magnified image of seeds under light microscope, with one of the seeds placed upright to show the deep longitudinal groove.

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