Silene latifolia
 
White Cockle

Female Plant
Early Infructescence

Marcelin, Saskatchewan
18-Aug-2010

Note that Budd's Flora recognized two related genera - Silene and Lychnis - and it called this species Lychnis alba.  Today Lychnis is subsumed in a larger Silene. Therefore the answers separating Silene from Lychnis have been removed from the answers leading to the genus and added to the answers leading to the species.

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Latifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this species.
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styles 5; NOT [styles usually 3]

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capsule 1-celled to base; NOT [capsule usually divided into partitions at base]

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petals large, much protruding beyond the calyx; NOT [petals small, not or little protruding beyond the calyx]

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calyx enlarging in fruit; NOT [calyx not or little enlarging]

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flowers of different sexes on separate plants; NOT [flowers perfect]

 

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Silene: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants NOT with woody base

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calyx without bracts; NOT [calyx with 1-3 pairs of bracts below]

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sepals united part way, forming a tube; NOT [sepals entirely separate]

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lobes of sepals NOT over 20 mm long; NOT [sepals with long, leaf-like lobes, over 20 mm long]

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petals usually present; NOT [petals absent]

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petals clawed; NOT [petals lacking claws]

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styles 3-5; NOT [styles2]

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styles alternate with the petals; NOT [styles opposite the petals]

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ovary stipitate

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fruit dehiscent; NOT [fruit indehiscent]

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fruit several-seeded; NOT [fruit 1-seeded]

 

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Caryophyllaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]

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terrestrial plants; NOT [mud plants with small axillary flowers]

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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leaves opposite, whorled, or basal; NOT [some or all leaves alternate]

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leaves NOT glandular-dotted

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plants without large petal-like bracts; NOT [plants with an involucre of 4 petal-like bracts]

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

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sepals more than 2; NOT [sepals 2]

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stamens NOT united at base; NOT [stamens united at base into 3-5 bundles]

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styles 2 or more; NOT [styles single]