Red Mountain Catchfly
(Silene campanulata ssp. campanulata )
Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae)

Photo 2003 BLM,Arcata Field Office

Description: This perennial herb stands anywhere from 2-8 inches (5-20 centimeters) tall, with stem generally much branched. Stem has hairs most visible under magnification.. Leaves 0.6-1.6 inches (1.5-4 centimeters) long, 0.07- 0.4 inches (2-10 millimeters) wide; linear to lanceolate (spear-shaped). Inflorescence is a cyme containing flowers with 5 petals and 5 fused sepals (bell-shaped). Petals are 1/2 - 3/4 inches (12-20mm) long, and 4-6 lobed.  Flowers are white to greenish or pinkish. The fruit are ovoid capsules with brown seeds, 1/8 inch (2-2.5mm) long.

Distribution: Known from fewer than ten occurrences near Cook Springs (Colusa County, Calif) and Red Mountain area east of Leggett (Mendocino County).

Habitat: Serpentine, chaparral, coniferous forest; 1640-3280 feet (500-1,000 meters).

Flowering Period: Blooms May through June

Similar Plants: Silene californica is similar but its lower leaves are much wider 2-30 millimeters as opposed to 2-10 millimeters and shaped lanceolate to ± round as opposed to linear in Red mountain catchfly. Flowers are red in Silene californica as opposed to greenish white

Status: Federal Candidate; California State Endangered; California Native Plant Society List 1B.