bladder campion

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bladder campion
• maiden's-tears
• Sculpit
• Stridolo
• maiden's tears
• maidenstears

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oberna behen
• Viscago behen
• Cucubalus behen
• Silene behen var. cucubalus
• Silene cucubalus subsp. vulgaris
• Behen vulgaris
• Behen oleraceum
• Behenantha behen

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Silene vulgaris, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Caryophyllaceae and falls under the genus Silene.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Northern Europe. In the British Isles, its presence is documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. It also inhabits the expansive landscapes of Norway. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant extends into the territory of Finland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Silene vulgaris is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a significant altitudinal distribution. This species can be found across a vast elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2600 m AMSL. In terms of its preferred living environments, it commonly colonizes varied landscapes including crop fields and forest ecosystems, demonstrating a versatile ability to integrate into both anthropogenic agricultural settings and natural woodland habitats.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, forest

Life history

The life history of Silene vulgaris is characterized by a flexible and resilient developmental strategy, functioning primarily as a perennial species, though its lifecycle can exhibit variable tendencies including annual or biennial phases depending on environmental conditions. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface during unfavorable seasons, a structural adaptation that supports its survival through varying climatic shifts. This life form is consistently categorized as a hemicryptophyte, ensuring stability and regrowth from the base. Additionally, the plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal changes, which allows it to enter periods of dormancy before re-emerging in subsequent growing seasons.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Silene vulgaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant exhibits a self-supporting, erect shoot orientation and does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. It is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.385 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.385 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Silene vulgaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil rather than capturing prey, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource management, featuring an elliptic form with a mean leaf size of 11.795 cm². The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm, and widths spanning from 0.4 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 198.7 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological strategy regarding leaf thickness and light interception efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

11.795 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

198.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Silene vulgaris is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in July and extends through September. During this time, the plant produces pink flowers that vary in length from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. The pollination process is biotic, primarily driven by insects, with bees serving as a key pollinator. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, it relies on these biotic interactions to facilitate its reproductive cycle; notably, asexual reproduction is absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which is a dehiscent structure. These capsules typically measure between 0.9 cm and 1.1 cm in length, with a width ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm. The resulting seeds are small, with a mean length of 1.3 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.0008766876 g, though individual seed mass can range from a minimum of 0.00017 g to a maximum of 0.00855 g. Seed dispersal is classified as unspecialized, indicating a generalist strategy for spreading the next generation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

2.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

1.1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

1.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00855 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0008766876 g

Seed mass min:

0.00017 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Silene vulgaris has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include P2, P3.

P2

1. International journal of immunopharmacology

P3

1. International journal of immunopharmacology

Conditions

Silene vulgaris has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include liver diseases.

Liver diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Silene vulgaris has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include callus, intact plant.

Callus

1. International journal of immunopharmacology

Intact plant

1. International journal of immunopharmacology