Menzies' Campion
Silene menziesii
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

The "Catchfly" common name of Silene menziesii comes from its glandular (sticky) hairs. These plants commonly grow in large colonies because they sprout from elongated underground roots. This plant is easily confused with Largeleaf Sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla).

Catchfly was first named by William Hooker in 1830. Archibald Menzies, physician and naturalist aboard several major 18th century sea and land explorations, was the first scientist to explore the Pacific Northwest. Pseudotsuga menziesii, what we now commonly call Douglas Fir, was first collected for science by Menzies, not Douglas. The Silene genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753, and the name is, according to the "Flora of North America", "probably derived from 'Silenus', the intoxicated foster father of the Greek god Bacchus, [god of wine] who was described as covered with foam; perhaps this alludes to the viscid secretion covering many species [in the Silene genus]."

Description

Perennial herb, some plants only male, some only female, some having both. 2-12" tall, with generally elliptical leaves up to 3" long, having short hairs and sticky glands. The flower stems are erect, the calyx bell-shaped, up to 1/3" long, and also sticky glandular. The white flowers are about 1/2" wide, with 5 petals deeply notched into two lobes.

Field Marks

Dainty plant in colonies with white upright flowers, notched petals, and glandular calyces.

© Al Schneider