Silene grayi
Encyclopedia
Silene grayi is a species of flowering plant in the pink family
known by the common name Gray's catchfly. It is native to the mountains of Oregon
and northern California
, including the Klamath Mountains
, where it grows in chaparral
, mountain forests, and the talus
of high slopes in alpine climate
s. It has been observed to occur in a plant association with oceanspray
(Holodiscus microphyllus), littleleaf silverback
(Luina hypoleuca), and Gray's bedstraw
(Galium grayanum). It is a perennial herb producing a decumbent or erect stem up to 20 or 30 centimeters long from a woody, branching caudex
. The base of the plant is covered in tufts of leaves. These basal leaves are lance-shaped to nearly spoon-shaped, fleshy, and up to 4 centimeters long. Smaller, narrower leaves occur farther up the stems. Each flower has a tubular calyx of fused sepal
s lined with ten green or red veins and covered in glandular hairs. It is open at the tip, revealing five pink or purple petals. The petal tips and appendages are divided into narrow lobes.
Caryophyllaceae
The Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranthaceae, Cactaceae and Polygonaceae...
known by the common name Gray's catchfly. It is native to the mountains of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, including the Klamath Mountains
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
, where it grows in chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, mountain forests, and the talus
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
of high slopes in alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
s. It has been observed to occur in a plant association with oceanspray
Holodiscus discolor
Holodiscus discolor, commonly known as ocean spray, creambush or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America. It is common in the Pacific Northwest where it is found in both openings and the forest understory at low to moderate elevations.-Description:Holodiscus discolor is a fast-growing...
(Holodiscus microphyllus), littleleaf silverback
Luina hypoleuca
Luina hypoleuca is a species of the genus Luina and the family Asteraceae. Found in North America on open and usually rocky places between altitudes of 70–2100 meters in British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington.-External links:***...
(Luina hypoleuca), and Gray's bedstraw
Galium grayanum
Galium grayanum is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name Gray's bedstraw. It is native to the high mountains of California, and its range just extends into Nevada in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is a mat-forming perennial herb that grows in green carpetlike...
(Galium grayanum). It is a perennial herb producing a decumbent or erect stem up to 20 or 30 centimeters long from a woody, branching caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. The base of the plant is covered in tufts of leaves. These basal leaves are lance-shaped to nearly spoon-shaped, fleshy, and up to 4 centimeters long. Smaller, narrower leaves occur farther up the stems. Each flower has a tubular calyx of fused sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s lined with ten green or red veins and covered in glandular hairs. It is open at the tip, revealing five pink or purple petals. The petal tips and appendages are divided into narrow lobes.