Silene - Definition and Overview

Silene
White campion, Silene latifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Caryophyllaceae Genus: Silene
Species
includes: Silene dioica (red campion) Silene latifolia (white campion) Silene uniflora (sea campion) Silene virginica (firepink or fiery campion) Silene vulgaris (bladder campion)

The genus Silene are flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. They include several Campions along with the related genus Lychnis

Red campion (S. dioica) and white campion (S. latifolia) are common wildflowers throughout Europe and elsewhere. They readily hybridise to produce plants with paler pink flowers.

Red campion, Silene dioica

A hybrid campion S. dioica x S. latifolia

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Reference

• (2004) Evolution of Sex Chromosomes: The Case of the White Campion. (http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0030028) PLoS Biol 3(1): e28.