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Starry campion's main stem ends in a panicle of flowers up to 8" long and 3-4" across; additional panicles may arise on the lateral stems on robust plants. Flowers occur in groups of 2-3 on the ends of long, slender branches; the flowers rest directly on short (1/4") pedicels. Individual flowers are 3/4" across. Each flower consists of a bell shaped, light green, fuzzy calyx nearly as broad as it is long with five broad, triangular teeth on its free end; five white petals with a narrow base and a "fringe" of 8-12 narrow lobes on their free ends; 10 stamens with slender white filaments that extend well outside the throat; and three white styles. The styles emerge from a large, green, globular ovary in the middle of the flower. After fertilization, the calyx gets broader (nearly triangular in profile) as the ovary expands into a spherical green ball; the fruit is brown, urn-shaped, and has six teeth on the distal end. The flowers tend to close in bright midday light. They are usually pollinated by moths and, to a lesser extent, bumblebees.

Silene

Silene stellata

starry campion [Blooms: Jun-Jul]