San Francisco campion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Francisco campion
Scientific classification
Genus:	Silene
Species:	verecunda

The Silene verecunda is a type of flowering plant. It is often called the San Francisco campion. This plant belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many kinds of pinks and carnations.

You can find this plant growing naturally in western North America. This includes places like California and Baja California in Mexico. It also grows in Nevada and Utah. The San Francisco campion is very adaptable. It can live in many different environments. These range from sunny coastlines to very high mountain slopes. You might also see it in chaparral areas, woodlands, and open meadows.

What Does It Look Like?

The Silene verecunda is a plant that can look quite different depending on where it grows. But generally, it is a plant that lives for many years. We call this a perennial herb.

It usually grows from 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) to over half a meter (about 20 inches) tall. It often has several stems that stand straight up. The plant feels hairy, and it is usually sticky because of tiny glands on its surface. Its leaves are shaped like a spear, which means they are longer than they are wide and come to a point. The biggest leaves are usually found near the plant's base, which is called the caudex.

Each flower of the San Francisco campion is wrapped in a tube-shaped case. This case is called a calyx. It is made from sepals that are joined together. You can see ten lines or veins running along this calyx. The petals of the flower are either white or pink. Each petal has two small splits or lobes at its tip. It also has two small parts, called appendages, at its base.