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Silene regia Sims
Royal Catchfly
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: Endangered
Global Rank: G3
State Rank: S1
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: High Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 4
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Limestone barrens; remnant prairies
Perennial herb with erect, unbranched, sticky-hairy stems, 1.5 - 5.2 feet (50 - 160 cm) tall. Its leaves are 16 - 4.7 inches (4 - 12 cm) long and 0.8 - 2 inches (2 - 5 cm) wide, opposite, lance-shaped, without leaf stalks and nearly clasping the stem, in 10 - 20 pairs; the lower leaves are withered by the time of flowering. Flowers are held in a branched, open cluster at the top of the stem. There are 5 bright red petals that are pointed or slightly toothed (but not deeply notched), with a low, 10-pointed “crown” at the base of the petals. The sepals are fused into a sticky-hairy tube (calyx) up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long with 10 conspicuous veins. Fruits are cylindrical capsules 0.4 - 0.8 inch (1 - 2 cm) long.
Fire-pink (Silene virginica) has red petals with several deep notches at the tips and fewer than 10 pairs of leaves. Its stems are shorter, less than 32 inches long (20 - 80 cm), leaning or sprawling, and are not sticky-hairy.
There are five rare species of Silene in Georgia:
Carolina Catchfly (Silene caroliniana) occurs on granite outcrops and in sandhills near the Ogeechee and Savannah Rivers. For more information, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Silene_caroliniana
Ovate Catchfly (Silene ovata) occurs in rich, deciduous forests over limestone or amphibolite in the Coastal Plain and in Fall Line ravines. In the mountains, it occurs in high-elevation, rocky, oak forests, usually over mafic rocks. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=17459
Fringed Campion (Silene polypetala, synonym Silene catesbaei) occurs in moist deciduous forests in the upper Coastal Plain and southwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=18409
Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) occurs in limestone cedar glades, rocky openings in woodlands over basic soils, Coosa Valley prairies, and rights-of-way through these habitats in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=16033
Roundleaf Catchfly (Silene rotundifolia) occurs on moist sandstone ledges and cliffs in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Silene_rotundifolia
Limestone cedar glades, rocky openings in woodlands over basic soils, Coosa Valley prairies, and rights-of-way through these habitats.
Royal Catchfly plants are tap-rooted and long-lived; they are adapted to frequent fire and sprout back readily after a burn or mowing. The flowers are capable of both self- and cross-pollination, but successful fruit set typically follows hummingbird pollination. The seeds are dispersed by gravity, do not have a dormant period, and do not create a seed bank. Seedlings are stimulated to emerge by soil disturbance and fire. Fire benefits Royal Catchfly at every life stage, promoting growth, survival of individual plants, and reproduction.
Surveys are best conducted during flowering (late May–early July).
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio. It is rare throughout its range.
Clearing and conversion of habitat to pine plantations, pastures, and residential and commercial developments. Broadcast use of herbicides in rights-of-way. Fire suppression and encroachment by woody species. Invasion by exotic pest plants.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Natural system modifications | Natural system modifications | Other options |
| Specific Threat | None | None | None |
Silene regia is ranked S1 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that the species is critically imperiled in Georgia. It is listed as Endangered by the State of Georgia. Four populations have been documented in Georgia, but only two populations were extant as of 2017, both on private land.
Use prescribed fire to manage prairies and woodlands. Mow or burn only in early spring or after plants have released seeds for the year. Avoid use of herbicides in rights-of-way. Protect woodlands from clearing and logging. Eradicate exotic pest plants.
Burleigh, J.G. and T.P. Holtsford. 2003. Molecular systematics of the eastern North American Silene (Caryophyllaceae): evidence from nuclear ITS and chloroplast TRNL intron sequences. Rhodora 105 (921): 76-90. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23313589
Chafin, L.G. 2007. Field guide to the rare plants of Georgia. State Botanical Garden of Georgia and University of Georgia Press, Athens.
Dienno, G.J., P. Garrett, and R.C. Moore. 2019. An examination of possible carnivory in Silene regia (Caryophyllaceae). Rhodora 121(988): 328-346. https://www.rhodorajournal.org/doi/abs/10.3119/18-05
GADNR. 2020. Element occurrence records for Silene regia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, Georgia.
Menges, E.S. 1995. Factors limiting fecundity and germination in small populations of Silene regia (Caryophyllaceae), a rare hummingbird-pollinated prairie forb. American Midland Naturalist 133: 242-255. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2426388
Menges, E.S. and R.W. Dolan. 1998. Demographic viability of populations of Silene regia in midwestern prairies: a relationship with fire management, genetic variation, geographic location, population size, and isolation. Journal of Ecology 86: 63-78. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2745.1998.00234.x
Morton, J.K. 2005. Silene regia species account. Flora of North America, Vol. 5. Oxford University Press, New York. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Silene_regia
NatureServe. 2020. Silene regia species account. NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128777/Silene_regia
Patrick, T.S., J.R. Allison, and G.A. Krakow. 1995. Protected plants of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Social Circle.
Tenaglia, D. 2006. Silene regia. Missouri plants: photographs and descriptions of flowering and non-flowering plants of Missouri. http://www.missouriplants.com/Silene_regia_page.html
Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm
Linda G. Chafin
L. Chafin, Aug. 2008: original account.
K. Owers, Feb. 2010: added pictures.
L. Chafin, May 2020: updated original account.
