Silene latifolia ssp. alba (Bladder campion)

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Silene latifolia Poir. ssp. alba (Mill.) Greuter & Burdet

Bladder campion

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Caryophyllidae	Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order	Caryophyllales	Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Pink or carnation family
Genus	Silene	Probably from Greek sialon, “saliva,” from a gummy exudation on the stems; or named for Silenus, intoxicated foster father of Bacchus (god of wine) who was covered with foam similar to the glandular secretions of many species of Silene
Species	latifolia	“Wide to broad leaves”
ssp.	alba	“White”

About plant names...

Bladder campion is a European native, brought to North America, where it is now a common weed.

Identification: Plants are 18-42" (45-106 cm) tall, with hairy, jointed stems. Leaves are oval to narrow, 4" (10 cm) × ¾" (2 cm). Flowers are white or pink, ¾-1" (1.9-2.5 cm) in diameter, with five deeply notched petals. Flowers open in the evening and close by noon. The calyx at the base of each flower is bulbous, like a little balloon, sometimes called the bladder. It is lined with ten prominent dark green or purplish "nerves." Seeds are small, rounded, and rough.

White campion closely resembles bladder campion:

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 2½ × 4" (7.1 × 10 cm)

6/13/2017 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.4 × 7.2 cm)

	You are here Silene latifolia ssp. alba
Common Name	bladder campion
Plant	18-42" (45-106 cm) tall, with hairy, jointed stems
Flowers	White or pink, ¾-1" (1.9-2.5 cm) in diameter, with five deeply notched petals. Flowers open in the evening and close by noon. The calyx at the base of each flower is bulbous, like a little balloon, sometimes called the bladder. It is lined with ten prominent dark green or purplish "nerves"
Leaves	Leaves are oval to narrow, 4" (10 cm) × ¾" (2 cm)
Seeds	Small, rounded, rough
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Grasslands, roadsides, pastures, waste places
Type	Wild
Occurrence	Common

Online References:

The Vanderbilt University Bioimages web site

Science.halleyhosting.com

The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Forestry Images

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

6/14/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 2½ × 3" (7.2 × 8.4 cm) ID is uncertain

6/14/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 8.1 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 2½ × 3½" (6.7 × 9 cm) ID is uncertain

5/23/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook C, Hollis, New Hampshire

6/7/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

Lychnis alba Mill.

Lychnis ×loveae B. Boivin

Lychnis vespertina Sibth.

Melandrium album (Mill.) Garcke

Silene alba (Mill.) Krause

Silene pratensis (Raf.) Gren. & Godr.

Silene latifolia ssp. alba description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

8/14/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3½" (12 × 9 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 3 × 3½" (8.3 × 9.8 cm) ID is uncertain

6/13/2017 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

6/1/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 2½ × 2½" (6.3 × 7.2 cm)

Range:

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