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Silene ovata Pursh
Mountain Catchfly
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: Rare
Global Rank: G3
State Rank: S1S2
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP High Priority Species (SGCN): Yes
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 16
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Mesic deciduous or beech-magnolia forests over limestone; bouldery, high elevation oak forests
Perennial herb up to 5 feet (150 cm) tall, with hairy, branching stems. The leaves are 2.4 - 4 inches (6 - 10) long, opposite, oval with a pointed tip and a rounded base, roughly hairy on both surfaces, with 3 - 5 conspicuous veins and no leaf stalk. The flowers have 5 white petals that are 0.5 inch (1 - 1.5 cm) long, each deeply divided into 8 fringe-like segments; there are 3 styles, 10 stamens, and a tubular calyx with 10 conspicuous veins; flowers open in the evening. Fruit is a narrow capsule about 0.3 inch (7 - 8 mm) long, splitting into 6 sections.
Starry Campion (Silene stellata) has similar flowers with deeply divided, white petals, but its mid-stem leaves are in whorls of 4; it flowers July–early September.
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
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.
Ovate Catchfly reproduces sexually by seed as well as vegetatively by the spread of underground stems (rhizomes). The flowers open at night and are pollinated by moths which probe the flowers for nectar produced at the base of the stamens. They may also be pollinated by bees and butterflies as is the very similar Starry Campion (Silene stellata).
Surveys are best conducted during flowering, late August (mountains) to early November (Coastal Plain), with peak flowering in September.
Georgia, north to Virginia and west to Arkansas and Mississippi.
Logging, clearing, and development in rich hardwood forests. Overbrowsing by deer. Digging by feral hogs.
Silene ovata is ranked S1S2 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that the species is imperiled in Georgia. Sixteen populations have been documented in Georgia, 9 of which have been seen since 2000; 8 populations occur on public lands.
Maintain hardwood canopy cover. Avoid clearing in mature hardwood forests. Reduce the size of Georgia’s deer herd. Eradicate feral hogs.
Brown, L. 2003. Silene stellata (L.) Aiton f. (Starry Campion) conservation and research plan. New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham, Massachusetts. www.nativeplanttrust.org › documents › Silenestellata
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.
Chafin, L.G. 2007. Field guide to the rare plants of Georgia. State Botanical Garden of Georgia and University of Georgia Press, Athens.
GADNR. 2020. Element occurrence records for Silene regia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, Georgia.
Morton, J.K. 2005. Flora of North America, Vol. 5. Oxford University Press, New York. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Silene_ovata
GADNR. 2020. Element occurrence records for Silene ovata. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, Georgia.
Hill, S.R. 2003. Conservation assessment for Ovate Catchfly (Silene ovata). U.S. Forest Service, Threatened and Endangered Species Program. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/tes/ca-overview/docs/plant\_Silene\_ovata-Ovate\_Catchfly.pdf
NatureServe. 2020. Silene ovata species account. NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144930/Silene_ovata
Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
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.
