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Catchfly (Silene succulenta)
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Find out here.Catchfly fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
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Catchfly description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Centrospermae |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus | Silene (1) |
This catchfly is a fleshy perennial with numerous ascending stems, clothed throughout with a dense mass of sticky, glandular hairs (2). On the top of the stems appear large, solitary or paired (rarely three or more) white scented flowers (2) (3). Those plants found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia have smaller leaves than those in Crete, and have been classified as the subspecies Silene succulenta corsica (2).
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Related species
Catchfly biology
This catchfly is a night-flowering species (3). The chemical compounds of the plant’s scent have been analysed and found to be similar to those of moth pollinated plants, implying that moths are the likely pollinator (3). Very little else has been documented concerning the biology of this species, but plants of the Caryophyllaceae family are known to usually have flowers with both male and female reproductive organs (5). The fruit of this family is most frequently a capsule, or alternatively a small, dry, single-seeded fruit (5).
TopCatchfly range
Found on the Mediterranean islands of Corsica (France), Sardinia (Italy) and Crete (Greece) (2).
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Species with a similar range
Catchfly habitat
Found around Mediterranean strand vegetation, sands and sandy soils (4), along the sea shore (2).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Catchfly status
Classified as Rare on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species 1997 (1). The subspecies Silene succulenta corsica is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species 1997 (1).
TopCatchfly threats
The precise threats facing this plant are unknown, but its coastal environment has certainly been impacted and degraded in recent decades by the growing tourism industry, associated tourism developments, urbanisation, and introduction of exotic plants (6).
TopCatchfly conservation
There are currently no conservation measures in place that target this species.
TopFind out more
Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. & Valentine, D.H. (1993) Flora Europaea: Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae Vol 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
TopAuthentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTopGlossary
- Perennial
- Plants that live for at least three seasons; after an initial period they produce flowers once a year.
References
- Walter, K.S. and Gillett, H.J. (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. IUCN (The World Conservation Union), Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
- Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. and Valentine, D.H. (1993) Flora Europaea: Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Jurgens, A., Witt, T. and Gottsberger, G. (2002) Flower scent composition in night-flowering Silene species (Caryophyllaceae). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 30(5): 383 - 397.
- The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (April, 2006)
http://www.botanic.co.il/a/catalog.asp?qcat=SILSUC - Heywood, V.H. (1978) Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Tzatzanis, M., Wrbka, T. and Sauberer, N. (2003) Landscape and vegetation responses to human impact in sandy coasts of Western Crete, Greece. Journal for Nature Conservation, 11(3): 187 - 195.
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Image credit
Catchfly in flower
© Andrew N. Gagg
Andrew N. Gagg
'Town House Two'
Fordbank Court
Henwick Road
Worcester
WR2 5PF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 190 574 8515
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.n.gagg/photo/photoflora.html
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