Catchfly  (Silene succulenta)

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).

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).

Found on the Mediterranean islands of Corsica (France), Sardinia (Italy) and Crete (Greece) (2).

Found around Mediterranean strand vegetation, sands and sandy soils (4), along the sea shore (2).

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).

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).

There are currently no conservation measures in place that target this species.

Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. & Valentine, D.H. (1993) Flora Europaea: Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae Vol 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.