Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Silene latifolia

I had to edit this photo to pass on to local botany friends, so thought I'd also add it to my Plants of Alberta album. The female flowers have a much shorter, rounder calyx than the male, and I'll post a photo of one later. This species is native to most of Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa, so is a non-native plant in Alberta, where it is a noxious weed. Taken at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area on 23 July 2014. www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app107/loadPest?action=display&id=61 This morning, I slept through my alarm's loud music for an hour and then for an extra hour and a half. Have an Open House to go to this afternoon, so am in a real rush and may have to finish off today's photos when I get home.

This is the attractive flower of Campion, Silene pratensis. It's an introduced (non-native) plant and is a weed. We found it when we went for a walk in the Sikome area of Fish Creek Park yesterday morning. "White cockle is thought to have been introduced to North America from Europe in the early nineteeth century through contaminated crop seeds. It is now widespread in the northern United States and southern Canada. However, only Washington lists Silene latifolia subsp. alba as a noxious weed. Like many introduced species, it can be found on roadsides and other disturbed areas, but it is also cultivated as an ornamental flower. It is worth noting that Silene latifolia subsp. alba has been the subject of several taxonomic disputes and has consequently gained a number of scientific names, including Lychnis alba, Silene alba, and Silene pratensis. The name Silene probably comes from the Greek sialon, meaning "saliva". This term is also related to Bacchus' perpetually intoxicated tutor, Silenus, said to often be covered with foam -- much like the secretions found on many members of the pink family." This information was provided below my photo on the UBC (University of British Columbia) Botany Photo of the Day website.