- Silene virginica
Taxobox
name = Fire Pink
image_width = 250px
regnum =Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Caryophyllales
familia =Caryophyllaceae
genus = "Silene "
species = "S. virginica"
binomial = "Silene virginica"
binomial_authority = L.Fire Pink ("Silene virginica") is a
wildflower in the pink family,Caryophyllaceae . It is known for its distinct brilliant redflower s. Each flower is approximately five centimeters in diameter and composed of five notched, brilliant redpetal s which extend into a long tube. It is a small (20-80 cm tall), short-lived perennial (2-3 years), with lance shaped leaves. Its stems, and the bases of the flowers, are covered in short sticky hairs. [ [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242417264 Flora of North America: Silene virginica] ] Fire Pink begins blooming in late spring and continuing throughout the summer. It is sometimes grown in wildflower, shade, and rockgarden s. [ [http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=M370 Missouri Botanical Garden Center for Home Gardening: Silene virginica] ]Ecology
Fire Pink grows in open woods and rocky deciduous slopes in eastern
North America , ranging as far north as extreme southernOntario . It is protected as a stateendangered species inWisconsin andFlorida , and as a statethreatened species inMichigan .Fire Pink's principal
pollinator is theRuby-throated Hummingbird ("Archilochus colubris "), which is attracted by the flowers bright red petals and sugary nectar. [ [http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/12/1800 Fenster et al. 2006. Nectar reward and advertisement in hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica (Caryophyllaceae). American Journal of Botany. 2006;93:1800-1807.] ]Varieties
There are two recognized varieties of fire pink. [ [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SIVI4 USDA PLANTS Database: Silene virginica] ] Most plants of this species are classified as "Silene virginica" var. "virginica", however an endemic subspecies occurs in
West Virginia called "Silene virginica" var. "robusta".References
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