maidenstears

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Scientific Name

Silene vulgaris

Other Common Names:

rattleweed

bladder campion

maiden's tears

cowbell

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Silene inflata

Silene latifolia

Oberna commutata

Silene cucubalis

Leaves

Leaves: Initially develop as somewhat of a basal rosette. Leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, and are easily confused as the leaves of a grass when this occurs as a weed in grass forages. Leaves are approximately 1 1/4 to 3 inches long and are without hairs. Stems: Erect, branching, reaching 3 1/3 feet in height. Stems are without hairs. Roots: Rhizomes and a fibrous root system.

Identifying Characteristics

An erect or low-growing perennial from rhizomes with 'bladder-like' flowers. Bladder campion is primarily a weed of pastures and hay fields, but may also occur along roadsides or in other forage crops. The hairless, opposite leaves and lobed, bladder-like flowers are all characteristics that help in the identification of bladder campion. White Campion (Silene alba) is very similar in appearance and growth habit, but has hairs on the leaves and stems unlike bladder campion.

Flower Seed Head

Flowers: Occur in clusters of 5 to 30 white flowers that are each approximately 20 mm in width. Individual flowers consist of 5 white petals that are deeply lobed or split and resemble a "V". The flowers also have bladder-like cases which are actually fused inflated sepals with 20 distinct pink to white veins.

Seed Fruit

Seedlings: Cotyledons are 3 to 12 mm long, 1 to 2 1/2 mm wide, elliptical in outline, without hairs, and yellowish green in color. Fruit: A round capsule within the 'bladder.' Each fruit is approximately 1/2 inch long.

Where Found

This weed occurs throughout most of the United States.

Growth Habit

prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies:

nickle,

half dollar

Dominant Flower Color

white

Flower Symmetry

radial symmetery

Leaf Hairs

no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies:

lance,

oval

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Margin

entire

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

shorter than leaf

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

square or multi-edged

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

taproot

Life Cycle

perennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb