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Taxon  Report  
Silene nelsonii  Mesler, M.S.Mayer & Carothers
Nelson's silene
Silene nelsonii is a perennial herb that is native to California.
California Rare Plant Rank: 4.3 (limited distribution).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
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Bloom Period
Genus: Silene
Family: Caryophyllaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS

Information about  Silene nelsonii from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

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[bioone.org] Taxonomic Name Change: Abstract Silene nelsonii M.R. Mesler, M.S. Mayer, and S.K. Carothers (Caryophyllaceae), a species with large, day-blooming flowers from the Trinity River Basin of northwestern California, is described and illustrated. In the past, plants assignable to this new species have been referred to incorrectly as S. bolanderi A.Gray or S. hookeri Nutt. subsp. bolanderi (Gray) Abrams, names that rightfully apply to another member of the Silene hookeri complex. Here we argue that both S. nelsonii and S. bolanderi are worthy of recognition as separate species based on morphological distinction and a molecular phylogenetic analysis. Silene nelsonii differs from S. bolanderi by its more deeply lobed, white petals; lack of well-developed coronal petal appendages; densely ciliate petal bases; and shorter, sometimes branched sepal hairs. We present a key to the five members of the S. hookeri complex, all of which are in some degree rare in California and worthy of conservation concern. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2024).