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Silene catesbaei Walter
Eastern Fringed Catchfly
Fringed Pink
Synonym(s): Silene polypetala
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
U.S. Endangered species
This distinctive little flower occurs in the Florida panhandle near the upper Apalachicola River and Lake Seminole. Silene catesbaei is also found in the Flint and Ocmulgee River drainages in the lower Piedmont Plateau of west-central Georgia and extreme southwestern Georgia near Lake Seminole. The habitat is usually mid to lower areas of hardwood slope forests and stream terraces.
A perennial herb that spreads by runners rooting at nodes, with only the flowering stems held erect. The five deeply fringed petals are bright pink when fresh, sometimes fading to a lighter shade.
When not in bloom, eastern fringed catchfly can be identified by the hairy winged leafstalks.
Silene catesbaei is a member of the Caryophyllaceae - Pink family.
Other species of the Silene genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Silene virginica - FIRE PINK
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jan 08, 2025
