Red Mountain catchfly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red Mountain catchfly
Scientific classification
Genus:	Silene
Species:	campanulata

Silene campanulata, also known as the Red Mountain catchfly or bell catchfly, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many types of pinks and carnations. Sometimes, people think it might be the same as another plant called Silene greenei.

This plant grows naturally in the mountains of Oregon and northern California. You can find it in forests and areas with chaparral (a type of shrubland). It sometimes even grows in special serpentine soils.

What Does the Red Mountain Catchfly Look Like?

The Red Mountain catchfly is a plant that lives for many years. It can grow up to about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. Many small stems grow from a tough, woody base called a caudex. This base also has a deep main root, which is called a taproot.

The stems usually have tiny hairs. The upper parts of the stems often feel sticky because they have special glands. The leaves can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long and 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) wide. The lower leaves are shaped like a spear or are rounded. The upper leaves are more narrow or oval.

The flowers hang down and grow in a cluster at the very top of the stem. Some flowers also grow where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has a hairy, often sticky, outer cup called a calyx. This cup is made of sepals that are joined together.

The calyx is shaped like a bell and can be green or purplish. It opens at the top, showing five petals inside. These petals can be white, greenish, or light pink. The tips of the petals are often split into many parts or have a fringed edge. The stamens (which hold pollen) and three long styles (part of the female flower) stick out from the center of the flower.

Different Kinds of Red Mountain Catchfly

Scientists have found different types of Silene campanulata, which they call subspecies. These are like slightly different versions of the same plant.

• Silene campanulata ssp. campanulata
  • This type is called the Red Mountain catchfly.
  • It is found only in California.
  • It is listed as an endangered species under California law. This means it is protected because there are very few of them left.

• Silene campanulata ssp. glandulosa
  • This type is known as the Bell catchfly.
  • You can find it in both California and Oregon.

• Silene campanulata subsp. greenei
  • This type is called Greene's catchfly.
  • It also grows in both California and Oregon.