[Campions, Catchflies and Silenes: The Genus Silene East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly

Silene oregana

Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii) - Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

Oregon campion blooming along the Maxwell Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness..........August 3, 2016.

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)The photo at right illustrates a lateral view of the calyx and fringed petals of Oregon campion from Fremont Point, Fremont N.F........July 12, 1998.

Characteristics:

Oregon campion is an attractive perennial which is suitable for a rock garden or for use under pines on the east side of the Cascades. The several stems range from 30-50 cm tall and are covered with short, glandular hairs above The 4-6 basal leaves are narrowly to broadly oblanceolate and range from 4-8 cm long and 6-12 mm wide. The blade of the basal leaves tapers to a slender petiole. The 3-6 pairs of stem leaves are narrower and short-petiolate to sessile.

The inflorescence is a congested to open cyme of several to many flowers. The calyx is tubular and somewhat bell-shaped and constricted at its base. The calyx is covered with glandular hairs and may have 10 purplish nerves or lines. The 5 pinkish-white petals are each deeply 4-lobed with these main lobes each forked or cut again into further smaller divisions.


Habitat:

Oregon campion may be found from subalpine habitats in the mountains to ponderosa pine forests and sagebrush covered slopes.


Range:

Oregon campion may be found east of the Cascade crest from Yakima County, WA south to Skamania County, WA. It is found in southern Oregon to Jackson County. It is found east through southeast Washington and eastern Oregon to western Montana and northwestern Wyoming as well as northeastern Nevada.


Profile view of a flower of Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

Close-up sideview of a flower of Oregon catchfly as seen along the Onion Creek Trail #368 near Strawberry Mountain, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.........July 18, 2013.

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii) - Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii) - Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

Oregon catchfly blooming in grasslands atop Sheep Ridge, Umatilla National Forest.....June 17, 2023.

Inflorescence of Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

The photo above illustrates the inflorescence of oregon campion as seen at Hat Pt. Lookout in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area..........July 11, 2007.

Oregon Campion, Oregon Catchfly: Silene oregana (Synonyms: Silene filisecta, Silene gormanii)

Oregon campion from Fremont Point, Fremont N.F.........July 12, 1998.

Paul Slichter