cone campion

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cone campion
• conoid catchfly
• large sand catchfly
• weed silene

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pleconax conica subsp. conoidea
• Cucubalus conoideus
• Silene conica var. conoidea
• Silene conica subsp. conoidea
• Pleconax conoidea
• Conosilene conica subsp. conoidea
• Conosilene conoidea
• Silene cylindriflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Caryophyllaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Silene, specifically as the species Silene conoidea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within the territories of Finland and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found throughout Middle Europe, specifically in Austria and Germany. Furthermore, its range extends into Southwestern Europe, where it grows in France. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental settings where the species can be found.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Silene conoidea is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 3000 m AMSL. This plant demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, as it is capable of colonizing diverse environments ranging from disturbed anthropogenic landscapes, such as crop fields, to more rugged and natural terrain including stony places.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, stony places

Life history

The life history of Silene conoidea is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on completing its vegetative and reproductive phases rapidly before the onset of unfavorable environmental conditions, after which the individual dies, leaving behind seeds to persist in the soil. This life form allows the species to effectively colonize transient habitats by utilizing a seed bank to navigate seasonal changes.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Silene conoidea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than a parasite or epiphyte, and is categorized as a self-supporting species rather than a climber, liana, or vine. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and reaches a maximum height of 0.6 m, with an average height of approximately 0.425 m, and can grow as short as 0.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.425 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Silene conoidea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure is defined by elliptic leaf forms that exhibit significant morphological variation in dimensions. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 6.5 cm, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum length of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width is relatively narrow, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1 cm.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Silene conoidea is characterized by a flowering period that typically commences in April and concludes in May. During this stage, the plant produces flowers distinguished by their pink coloration. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules exhibit specific dimensions, with a mean length of 1.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm) and a mean width of 0.7 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm). The fruit is dehiscence, meaning it is capable of splitting open to release its contents. The seeds produced within the capsule are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 0.0011084 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.001 g to a maximum of 0.001232 g. In terms of morphology, the seeds have a length ranging from 1 mm to 1.2 mm and a width ranging from 1.3 mm to 1.8 mm.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Seed length max:

1.2 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.001232 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0011084 g

Seed mass min:

0.001 g

Seed width max:

1.8 mm

Seed width min:

1.3 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Silene conoidea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Stem

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Chemicals

Silene conoidea has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Flavonoids, RUTIN, Steroids, diosmin.

Flavonoid

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

RUTIN

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Steroids

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

diosmin

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

hesperidin

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

luteolin di-O-glucoside

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Activities

Silene conoidea has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Allelopathic, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial.

Allelopathic

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antibacterial

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Silene conoidea has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, petroleum ether.

Chloroform

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Dichloromethane

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Ethyl acetate

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Methanol

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Petroleum ether

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Water

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry