| Silene nutans | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Silene |
| Species: | S. nutans |
| Binomial name | |
| Silene nutans | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Silene nutans is aflowering plant in the genusSilene, most commonly known asNottingham catchfly.[3]
Silene nutans is a diploid, mainlyoutcrossing,herbaceous,perennial plant.[4]It grows up to 25–80 centimetres (10–31 in) tall, from a branching,woody stock with a thicktaproot.[5] The lower leaves are up to 75 millimetres (3 in) long,spathulate and have a long stalk, while leaves higher on the plant arelanceolate,subsessile and acute; all the leaves are covered in soft hairs.[5] The flowers are 18 millimetres (0.7 in) wide, 12 millimetres (0.5 in) long, and drooping, on short,viscid stalks. The petals are white or pinkish and divided into two narrow lobes. Each flower remains open for three nights as a means of preventingself-fertilisation; the flower reveals onewhorl ofstamens on the first night, the second whorl of stamens on the second night, and the threestyles on the third night.[5] The seeds are 10–22 millimetres (0.4–0.9 in) wide andkidney-shaped.[5]
Silene nutans is widespread across Europe, from southern Spain and Italy north to the British Isles and Scandinavia, and is also found across large parts of Asia.[2] It has been introduced to North America, where it is known as theEurasian catchfly. It is found in the U.S. states ofMichigan,Ohio,New York,Vermont andMaine.[6]
Silene nutans can sometimes be found in the very widespreadMG1 (Arrhenatherum elatius grassland) community of theBritish National Vegetation Classification, and thus can be found whereArrhenatherum elatius (false oat grass) orDactylis glomerata (cocksfoot) occur.[7]
Silene nutans is asteppe species across most of its range. At the periphery of itsdistribution, it has a patchy distribution inxeric habitats, such as opengrasslands and on rockoutcrops at forest margins, on both acidic and alkaline substrates (pH 3.8–8.0).[4] In the far north of its range,S. nutans is characteristic of maritimecliffs.[8]
Silene nutans flowers during the night, and produces a strongfloral scent to attract itspollinators, which are mostly night-flying moths.Chemical compounds in the scent includebenzyl acetate andbenzaldehyde.[9]
Silene nutans is thehost plant for theleaf mining mothColeophora galbulipennella.[10]
Thecommon name Nottingham catchfly commemorates the former occurrence ofS. nutans on the walls ofNottingham Castle,[11] and the species was chosen to represent theunitary authority ofNottingham as itscounty flower.[12] Despite this association, Nottingham catchflies no longer occur in either the city of Nottingham[13] or the wider county ofNottinghamshire.[14]
Nottingham Castle Trust asked volunteers to grow the plant from seeds supplied to donate the successful plants back to the City to commemorate the re-opening of the renovation of Nottingham Castle.[15]
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