Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Campion
The Campions, Silene alba and Silene vulgaris, caught my attention initially for the beauty of their pure white blossoms, which seem to glow in the twilight. After a closer look, literally and figuratively, I found that these most unusual plants are worthy of our appreciation throughout the season, as I think you'll see below.
These immigrants from Europe have made themselves at home in North America. Since they were unwittingly introduced by the first settlers these plants have spread across the continent and are found in all the states and provinces of the United States and Canada.
Although they vary somewhat in appearance all Campion have fused sepals, for which several members of the family have been given the common name of "bladder," as above.
In addition,
these plants have a common attribute
of stickiness, along with their relatives,
Fire Pink and Wild Pink,
that is reflected in the botanical prefix for their
genus, Silene.
As the early categorizers (Linneaus and others) were wont to do, a genus name was often chosen from their knowledge of classical mythology. In this borrowing they referred back to Silenus, the perpetually intoxicated head satyr—the original "party animal"—and foster-father of Bacchus (god of wine). According to the myth Silenus was known for being covered with sticky foam—not to get too specific, but the Greek for saliva is sialon. Enough said!
The smooth-skinned Bladder Campion has both male (stamens) or female (pistil) parts in the same blossom.
The hairy-skinned, White Campion, however, has separate male and female blossoms. In keeping with its botanical naming, the female aids cross-pollination by excreting a sticky substance at the mouth of the blossom to trap the pollen brought by visiting insects.
I found later in the season that there is more going on beneath the pretty blossoms of the White Campion than I had realized when I added the previous photos.
The females develop a seed capsule that I found really interesting in itself. The brown bladder in the image to the upper left is a female plant in transition; the outer skin is dying, revealing the woody capsule (upper right).
If you'll look closely you can see the seeds nestled at the bottom of the seed capsule, protected in a "wooden womb!"
Here is a view of an emptied capsule with some seeds ready to start next year's generation.
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